Cibrarjo  of  t1\e  trheolojical  ^tminaty 

PRINCETON  •  NEW  JERSEY 


PRESENTED  BY 

Rufus  H.  LeFevre 


<pA^  ^//^^^^ 


FEB  11  1953 


The  Criminal  Classes 
Causes  and  Cures 


/ 


BY 


D.  R.  MILLER,   D.D. 

with   an   Introduction   by 

HON.  CHARLES  FOSTER 

Ex-Governor  of  Ohio,   and  Secretary  of  the  Treasury  in   the 
Cabinet  of  President   Benjamin   Harrison 


DAYTON,  OHIO 

UNITED   BRETHREN  PUBLISHING  HOUSE 

MCMIII 


Copyright,  igo; 

U.  B.  PUBLISHING  HOUSE 

Daytcn,  Ohio 


PREFACE. 


Over  a  score  of  years  have  recorded  themselves  in 
Time's  book  since  the  author  of  tiiis  volume  first  became 
identified  officially  with  the  criminally  delinquent  classes. 
Since  then,  by  observation,  association,  and  diligent  re- 
search, he  has  carefully  studied  the  various  types  of  crim- 
inal life. 

Inside  opportunities  have  enabled  him  to  gather  many 
facts  and  note  many  incidents  which  furnish  material  for 
interesting  and  instructive  narratives,  and  form  opinions 
regarding  the  origin  and  nature  of,  and  remedies  for  the 
several  classes  of  crime,  obtainable  in  no  other  way. 

With  the  material  gathered  and  the  information  ob- 
tained. I  have  consented  to  put  them  in  book  form,  in 
response  to  many  requests  and  encouragements  from  those 
having  knowledge  of  the  same,  among  which  is  the  follow- 
ing prompting  from  Prof.  W.  0.  Krolm,  of  the  University 
of  Illinois: 

]My  Dear  Friexd  :  It  makes  me  very  happy  to  know  that  you 
are  going  to  work  over  into  book  form  the  immense  amount  of 
material  that  you  have  acquired  on  the  criminal  classes.  .  .  . 
Do  not  gi-\e  up  the  work  because  of  the  arduous  nature  of  the 
task  liefore  you.  You  owe  it  to  the  sociological  world  to  give  it  the 
henetit  of  your  immense  fund  of  material  and  experience.  I  shall 
look  fom-^ard  to  the  book  with  great  pleasure. 

In  the  preparation  of  this  work,  it  has  been  the  design 
of  the  authot,  and  the  expressed  purpose  of  the  publisher, 
to  make  a  popular  book — a  book  in  langitage,  style,  and 
compass  within  the  grasp  of  the  common  reader.  The  aim 
has  also  been  to  present  a  book  full  of  interest  and  informa- 


Preface 

tiou  for  the  more  careful  studeut  of  sociology,  psychology, 
and  criminology.  In  a  book,  however,  of  the  size  presented, 
it  must  not  be  expected  that  exhaustive  treatises  be  given 
on  any  or  all  of  the  several  types  of  criminal  life,  or  upon 
the  causes  and  cures  thereof.  ]\Iuch  important  matter, 
therefore,  for  the  complete  study  of  the  subject  must  be 
omitted  here. 

The  subject  of  crime,  like  every  other  subject  affecting 
the  race,  should  have  the  careful  consideration  of  all  in- 
terested in  the  well-being  of  man.  The  several  forces  lead- 
ing to  crime  should  be  known,  and  the  several  types  of 
delinquency  well  understood.  In  the  preparation  of  this 
work,  therefore,  care  has  been  exercised  in  illustrating  and 
defining  those  several  types,  and  suggesting  corrective 
agencies,  thus  enabling  those  interested  to  intelligently 
apply  the  needful  correctives  for  the  recovery  of  the  fallen, 
and  furnish  the  needful  protection  to  those  criminally  in- 
clined. To  this  end,  a  series  of  brief  sketches  and  some 
photographic  illustrations  of  noted  criminals  are  intro- 
duced; also,  some  incidents  and  narratives  gathered  from 
those  in  penal  service.  In  the  introduction,  however,  of 
these  narratives,  sketches,  and  illustrations,  special  care 
has  been  exercised  to  avoid  sensational  details  of  the 
crimes  alleged,  because  it  is  the  opinion  of  the  author  that 
all  such  details  serve  as  factors  to  turn  into  channels  of 
like  crime  those  who  may  read  them. 

For  valuable  information  used  in  the  preparation  of  this 
work,  the  author  is  especially  indebted  to  the  following: 
Dr.  ('.  E.  Wine's  book,  •'State  of  Prisons  and  Child-Saving 
Inst  ihil ions,"  Triplett's  "Great  American  Criminals,"  Dr. 
Christison's  "Crimes  and  Criminals."  Also,  to  Prof.  W.  0. 
Ki-ohn.  of  Chicago,  Illinois,  for  valuable  suggestions,  and 
for  tlx'  cniirc  chapter  on  "Doulilc  Personality." 

The  Author. 


CONTENTS, 


Chapter.  Pj 

I.  Criminal  Population  of  the  Civilized  World, 

II.  Economic  Side,       ------- 

III.  The  First  Murderer,         --.... 

IV.  A  Missing  Link,  ------ 

V.  A  Notorious  Ocean  Pirate,        -  .  .  -  - 

VI.  A  Kidnaper,  ------- 

VII.  A  Family  of  Four  Demons,         -  .  -  . 

VIII.  Charles  Julius  Guiteau,       ----- 

IX.  A  Desperado,  ------- 

X.  No  Other  Like  This,     ------ 

XI.  A  Political  Murderer,     ------ 

XII.  Took  the  Wrong  Road,  -  -  .  .  . 

XIII.  One  of  Two, 

XIV.  One  Step  Leads  to  Another,  -  .  -  . 
XV.  Thrilling  Incident,           -          -          - 

XVI.  Double  Personality,  .  .  .  .  . 

XVII.  A  Monstrosity,  ------- 

XVIII.  A  Struggle  to  Forgive  a  Foe,       -  -  -  . 

XIX.  "Can  God  Save  a  Poor  Sinner  Like  Me?" 

XX.  Jealousy,      -------- 

XXI.  A  Poetical  Epitaph,  ------ 

XXII.  A  Wise  Conclusion,       ------ 

XXIII.  The  Prisoner's  Request,  .  -  -  -  . 

XXIV.  Abolishment  of  Sin,     ------ 

XXV.  A  Model  Letter,        .---... 

XXVI.  A  Mother's  Love,  ---... 

XXVII.  A  Mother's  Call,      ------- 

XXVIII.  A  Convict  to  His  Mother,     .  -  -  -  - 

XXIX.  Special  Temperance  Service,  -  .  .  - 

XXX.  Driven  from  Home,        ------ 

XXXI.  Mercy  Sought  and  Obtained,  ...  - 

XXXII.  Extracts    from    Letters    of    Prisoners  and    Their 
Friends,  ------- 

XXXIII.  A  Plea  Against  Capital  Punishment, 

XXXIV.  "  Father  's  a  Convict  and  Mother  is  Dead," 


11 
15 
19 
20 
23 
27 
28 
30 
.33 
37 
42 
45 
47 
49 
51 
57 
66 
68 
71 
73 
75 
76 
77 
78 
79 
83 
85 
87 
89 
97 


101 
103 
104 


IV 


Contents 


Chapter. 
XXXV. 
XXXVI. 
XXXVII. 

XXXVIII. 
XXXIX. 

XL. 

XLI. 

XLII. 

XLIII. 

XLIV. 

XLV. 

XLVI. 

XLVII. 

XLVIII. 

XLIX. 

L. 
LI. 

LII. 
LIII. 
LIV. 

LV. 

LVL 

LVIL 

LVIII. 

LIX. 

LX. 

LXI. 

LXII. 

LXIII. 

1        LXIV. 

LXV. 

LXVI. 

LXVII. 

LXVIII. 

LXIX. 

LXX. 

LXXI. 

LXXII. 

LXXIII. 

LXX  IV. 

LXXV. 

LXXVI. 

LXXVII. 


Page. 

Thanksgiving  in  Prison,         -          -          -          -  -    105 

Pardon  Scene,    -          -          -----  107 

Assassination  of  President  Garfield,    -          -  -    109 

A  Peculiar  Collection,       -----  111 

A  Book  Order,                   -          -          -          -          -  -    114 

A  Pathetic  Scene  in  Arkansas  Penitentiary,  -  116 

A  Resignation,        -          -          -          -          -          -  -    117 

The  Last  Greeting,    ------  118 

A  Poor  Convict,      -          -          -          -          -          -  -    120 

He  Has  Found  Something  Better,       -          -          -  121 

Power  of  Influence,      ■          -          -          -          -  -    122 

Sources  of  Degeneracy,      -----  124 

Innate  and  Psychological  Causes,           -          -  -    131 
Intemperance  a  Cause  of  Crime,         -          -          -  134 
Vile  and  Sensational  Liierature  Crime-Produc- 
ing Agencies,            -          -          -          -          -  -    136 

Ignorance  a  Source  of  Crimk,    -          -          -          -  144 

Conventional    Standards    for    Social    Life    May 

Prompt  to  Misdeeds,         -          -          -          -  -    151 

Criminal  Examples  and  Associations,         -          -  153 
Unbridled  Passion  Leads  to  Crime,         -          -  -    154 
Preventives  of,  and    Cures  for  Crime  and  Crim- 
inals,          -------  155 

Indeterminate  Sentences,      -          -          -          -  -    157 

Education  a  Means  of  Reformation,            -          -  159 

Child-Saving  Institutions,      -          -          -          -  -    160 

Moral  and  Religious  Efforts,             -          -          -  162 

Special  Religious  Service,     -          -          -          -  -    164 

A  Prisoner's  Review,     -          -          -          -          -  -    166 

A  Letter  From  a  Convict  Father  to  His  Son,     -  169 
A  Letter  from  a  Wife  to  Her  Convict  Husband  in 

Prison,         .----.  171 

Token  of  Appreciation,           .          .          .          .  .    173 

A  Platonic  Address,            -----  174 

Sad  Thoughts,         -          -          -          -          -          -  -    176 

Concealed  Identity,            -----  178 

Field  and  Forest,  Liberty  and  Exile,             -  -    182 

Sympathy,            -          ------  188 

Remarkable  Cases,         -          -          -          -          -  -    189 

Melody  of  Tears,        ------  191 

Cheese,             --------  193 

An  Acrostic,       -------  194 

The  Humming-bird,          -          -          -          -          -  -    195 

Exciting  Scene  in  Prison  Chapel,      -          -          -  196 

Turn  Your  Glasses  Down,       -          -          -          -  -    198 

Poetical  Correspondence,           -          -          -          -  200 

Gleanings  from  the  Bible,    -----  204 


Contents  v 

Chapter.  Page. 

LXXVIII.    An  Interview  Between  Chaplain  and  Prisoner,  205 

LXXIX.    The  Two  Temples, 208 

LXXX.    Educational,  Facilities  in  Prisons,            -          -  2i0 

LXXXl.    The  Old  Churchbell, 213 

LXXXII.    Religious  Influences  and  Religious  Impulses,  214 

LXXXIII.    Kept  in  Perfect  Peace,              ....  219 

LXXXIV.    Good  Advice  from  Prison,                -          -          -          -  222 

LXXXV.    Executive  Clemency,         -----  223 

LXXXVI.    The  Discharged  Prisoner,               .          .          .          .  225 

LXXXVII.   Conclusion, 227 


INDEX  TO   ILLUSTRATIONS. 

Author,  ....-.-.  Frontispiece 

Athey,  Mrs.  E.  A.,         -          -          -          -          -          -          -          -  73 

A  Moral  Paralytic,         -..---..  21 

Holland,  Jud,     ---------  66 

Kidnaper,  A,               ----...--  25 

Mann,  Geo.  E.,      --------          -  47 

McKiMiE,  Robert,               --------  33 

Ohr,  G.  a., -           -  45 

The  Lock-Step,          ---------  125 

Sammett,  John,             ........  49 

Seitz,  Ferdinand,              -          -          .          -          .          -          -          .  35 


I^TTRODUCTIOK 

A  LAW  demanding  only  a  refrain  from  violence  or  ab- 
stinence from  all  that  may  injure  others  contains  but  the 
negative,  while  it  is  lacking  in  the  more  important,  the 
positive  elements. 

If  men,  by  closing  their  eyes  to  the  existence  of  evil, 
could  thereb}'  banish  it,  then  might  it  be  best  for  all  to 
close  their  eyes.  Political  economists,  however,  look  for 
the  perfect  Utopia  through  other  than  negative  forces. 
The  Avorld's  population  is  now  said  to  be  about  1,600,- 
000,000,  of  whom  nearly  one-half  are  reckoned  as  civilized. 
Of  this  portion,  there  are,  because  of  crime,  annually  in- 
carcerated in  the  penitentiaries  of  the  world  an  average  of 
over  1,000,000. 

Whatever  the  stimulus  to  moral  ohliquity  may  be,  it  is 
quite  certain  that  we  can  never  hope  to  discover,  through 
ignorance,  what  are  the  various  types  of  criminal  ab- 
normality, nor  loiow  the  many  causes  or  cures  for  such 
estrangements.  jSTo  ;  these  are  discoverable  only  through 
diligent  study,  earnest  investigation,  and  careful  analysis. 
An  intelligent  and  thorough  study  of  the  criminal  prob- 
lem will  eliminate  from  our  creed  that  fatalistic  formula 
which  asserts  that  "Evil  is  good  not  understood,"  and  find 
a  more  scientific  and  satisfactory  solution. 

The  proper  study  of  criminology  enters  into,  and  is, 
indeed,  quite  a  part  of  the  sociology  of  the  present,  which 
takes  its  place  among  the  several  essential  studies  prepara- 
tory to  effective  American  citizenship.-  CriminnlosfA-.  when 
properly  studied,  l^ecomes  botli  interesting  and  instructive. 


viii  Introduction 

From  the  several  brain  tissues  in  many  criminals  evolve 
thoughts  interchangeable  in  sentiments  from  the  most  ele- 
vating and  grand  to  the  most  base  and  degrading.  Here 
are  manifest  legitimate  ambitions  with  fiendish  dictations 
of  avarice.  Here  the  sympathizing  friend  with  the  schem- 
ing murderer,  and  here  the  angel  with  the  demon,  all  strug- 
gling for  the  preeminence.  Here  eminate  dreams  of  art, 
visions  of  science,  flights  of  poetry,  and  hopes  of  victories. 

With  statesmen,  philanthropists,  and  Christians,  the 
question  is  not  so  much  how  criminals  may  be  detected,  ar- 
rested, and  detained,  as  how  the  good  within  them  may  be 
aided  in  overcoming  the  evil.  To  furnish  information 
which  may  aid  in  the  better  solution  of  this  question  is,  in 
part,  the  mission  of  this  volume,  which  consists  of  more 
than  cold  theories. 

The  opportunities  of  the  author  for  the  practical  study 
of  the  several  types  of  moral  delinquency,  their  probable 
causes  and  possible  cures,  his  clear  comprehension  of,  and 
his  ability  to  present  the  facts,  make  this  a  book  of  special 
value. 

I  have  well  and  favorably  known  the  author  for  al)0ut  a 
quarter  of  a  century.  On  my  motion  or  recommendation, 
when  Governor  of  Ohio,  because  of  my  personal  and  favor- 
able knowledge  of  the  man,  he  was  elected  chaplain  of  the 
Ohio  Penitentiary;  and  subsequently,  reinforced  in  my 
favorable  impressions  by  his  success  as  chaplain,  at  my  re- 
quest, was  chosen  superintendent  of  the  Girls'  Industrial 
Home  of  Ohio. 

During  his  official  connection  with  these  institutions  of 
the  State  of  Ohio,  he  more  than  successfully  met  all  the 
requirements  of  his  position.  Since  then  he  lias  given  the 
subject  of  crime  and  methods  of  reform  much  thought.  T 
therefore  most  earnestly  commend  his  book  to  the  general 
public,  and  es]iecially  to  students  of  the  sul)jects  herein 
treated. 


Introduction  ix 

Of  some  of  the  incidents  herein  narrated  I  have  per- 
sonal knowledge,  and  recognize  several  of  the  characters 
sketched  and  persons  illustrated,  and  believe  them  to  be 
truly  represented. 

One  of  the  commendable  features  of  this  volume  is  the 
manifest  care  with  which  the  author  has  avoided  sensa- 
tional details  of  the  crimes  alleged  to  have  been  committed 
by  the  several  persons  to  whom  reference  is  made,  which  is 
an  exception  to  the  general  rule  in  such  cases,  a  wise  excep- 
tion, however,  because  such  details  often  become  agencies 
in  turning  those  who  read  them  into  channels  of  crime  and 
prompting  to  criminal  deeds. 

As  matters  of  general  interest  and  of  special  importance, 
particular  attention  is  called  to  the  statistics  given  in  chap- 
ter one,  and  to  the  costs  of  crime  and  of  criminal  immi- 
gration mentioned  in  chapter  two.  Also,  to  the  causes 
of  crime  enumerated  in  chapters  forty-six  to  fifty-three, 
and  the  several  agencies  for  the  preventing  of  crime  and 
the  reformation  of  criminals  as  presented  in  chapters  fifty- 
four  to  fifty-nine. 

Economists  should  certainly  carefully  study  the  prol)- 
lems  of  cost  suggested  in  this  work.  Statesmen  should  give 
heed  to  the  note  of  warning  on  the  matter  of  criminal  im- 
migration. Eeformers  will  do  well  to  study  diligently  the 
methods  and  means  suggested  here  for  the  prevention  and 
cure  of  crime.  The  friends  of  education  will  do  well  to 
study  thoroughly  the  several  facts  carefully  gathered  and 
forcibly  stated  in  chapters  fifty  and  fifty-six. 

The  book  will  certainly  be  interesting,  instructive,  and 
helpful  to  professional  men,  statesmen,  philanthropists, 
students  of  sociology,  keepers  of  prisons,  reformers,  and 
all  others  interested  in  lifting  up  the  fallen.  The  subject 
and  merit  of  this  book  should  make  it,  indeed,  a  widely- 
read  volume.  Charles  Foster. 

Fostoria,  Ohio,  June  13,  1903. 


THE  CRIMINAL  CLASSES; 

CAUSES  AND  CURES. 


Criminal  Population^  of  tpie  Civilized  World. 

Criminal  Problem- — Criminal  Statistics — Delinquent  Children — Sen- 
tence, Varieties  of — Repeaters. 

That  a  portion  of  the  race  are  civil,  industrious,  and 
enterprising,  proving  themselves  benefactors  indeed,  is  a 
truth  full  of  comfort  and  hope;  but  that  others  are  indo- 
lent, wayward,  and  criminal,  proving  themselves  both  ex- 
pensive and  dangerous  to  society,  is  a  truth  equally  but 
fearfully  true.  How  and  why  it  is  that  some  persons  so 
easily  yield  to  evil  influences  and  are  borne  down  under 
sin's  dominion  to  svdft  shame  and  ruin,  while  others,  by 
better  influences  and  impulses,  are  turned  into  safe  re- 
treats or  borne  on  smooth  waters  which  waft  them  toward 
the  haven  of  blessedness,  are  questions — aye,  important 
questions — well  deserving  the  most  careful  attention  of 
scientists,  statesmen,  and  theologians. 

My  purpose  now  is  not  to  direct  attention  to  those  in  the 
hopeful  walks  of  life,  but  to  turn  the  eyes  and  hearts  of 
such  toward  those  whose  feet  already  press  that  dark  and 
dangerous  way,  those  over  whom  the  mists  and  clouds  of 
shame,  of  sin  and  death,  are  gathering  thick  and  fast.  I 
would  have  the  reader  follow  me  into  what  some  call  the 


12  The  Criminal  Classes 

lower  strata  of  society.  I  would  have  him  see  who  are 
there,  and,  if  possible,  find  out  Avhy  they  are  there.  Aye, 
more;  I  would  enlist  all  aid  to  lift  the  fallen, — 

"To  guide  and  lead  to  hettei-  ways, 
To  nobler  purpose,  higher  aims." 

To  enable  those  interested  to  more  fully  comprehend 
the  situation,  I  invite  attention  to  some  statistical  facts 
which  have  been  gathered  with  great  care.  The  figures  in 
a  few  cases  are  based  upon  comparative  estimates,  accord- 
ing to  condition  and  population,  with  other  districts  and 
countries  from  which  Ave  have  reliable  accounts,  furnished 
by  the  best  authorities  on 

STATISTICS. 

The  present  population  of  the  world  is  estimated  at 
about  1,600,000,000,  of  whom  it  is  safe  to  say  about 
700,000,000  are  within  civilized  countries.  Of  these  700,- 
000,000  within  the  civilized  portions  of  the  world,  there 
are  in  the  prisons,  under  penal  sentence,  an  annual  average 
of  about  1,000,000,  which,  according  to  the  latest  authori- 
ties and  average  estimates,  are  to  be  found  in  the  several 
countries,  about  as  follows:  France,  190,000;  Spain, 
65,000;  Russia,  165,000;  Japau,  65,000;  Greece,  Denmark, 
and  Sweden,  25,000 ;  Italy,  28,000 ;  Hungary,  30,000 ;  Ger- 
man Empire,  120,000;  Great  Britain  (United  Kingdom), 
120,000;  British  India,  80,000;  Ontario,  22,000;  Mexico 
and  Central  America,  ,32,000;  United  States,  58,000. 

The  above  includes  only  those  in  the  penal  institutions, 
or  the  penitentiaries.  Are  these  all  ?  N"o,  indeed,  not  all. 
Add  thereto  that  legion  at  large  who  daily  startle  com- 
munities hy  awful  deeds  of  robbery,  rape,  and  murder. 
Best  authorities  say  that  only  aliout  one-fifth  of  the  crim- 
inals are  ever  detected  and  punished.     Accepting  tliis  as 


Causes  and  Cures  13 

true,  the  criminal  population  within  the  civilized  portions 
of  the  world  Avill  number  about  5,000,000. 

In  addition  might  be  enumerated  delinquent  children 
in  the  reformatories,  who,  in  the  United  States,  number 
over  30,000,  also  the  many  committed  to  the  jails  and 
minor  prisons.  Delinquent  children  are  to  be  found  in 
all  countries,  who,  but  for  the  hanA  of  charity  and  the 
guardianship  of  the  state,  naturally  drift  into  criminal 
life.  Many  are  the  oit'spring  of  dissolute  parents,  some 
are  illegitimate,  and  others  have  no  knowledge  of  their 
parents,  ^lost  of  them  might  appropriately  adopt  the 
touching  lines  of  Philo  H.  Child: 

"Alone  in  the  dreary,  pitiless  street, 
With  my  torn  old  clothes  and  bare,  cold  feet. 
All  day  I  've  wandered  to  and  fro, 
Hungry  and  shivering  and  nowhere  to  go ; 
The  night  's  coming  on  in  darkness  and  dread. 
And  the  chill  sleet  beating  npon  my  bare  head. 
Oh,  why  does  the  wind  blow  upon  me  so  wild? 
Is  it  because  I  am  nobody's  child?" 

For  the  past  quarter  of  a  centurj^,  the  criminal  popula- 
tion under  penal  service  within  the  United  States  has 
fluctuated  considerably.  In  times  of  business  prosperity, 
as  a  rule,  the  average  has  l^een  less  than  in  times  of  ad- 
versity. 

Without  giving  actual  figures,  it  may  be  said,  generally, 
that  the  largest  ratio  of  prisoners  to  population  is  found 
among  the  colored  inhabitants.  The  ratio  for  the  foreign- 
born  is  nearly  doul)le  that  for  the  native  population;  but 
the  number  of  women  in  prisons,  in  proportion  to  their 
total  number,  is  less  than  one-tenth  that  of  the  stronger 
sex. 

The  average  age  of  prisoners  is  a  little  more  than  twenty- 
nine  years  and  a  half.  More  than  one-fourth  of  them  are 
under  twenty-three  years  of  age;  more  than  one-third  of 
them  are  under  twontv-five;  and  more  than  one-half  of 


14  The  Criminal  Classes 

theui  are  under  twenty-eight.  Their  youth  is  a  very  strik- 
ing fact,  which  ought  to  be  regarded  as  an  incentive  and 
an  inspiration  to  more  earnest  efforts  for  their  reforma- 
tion. 

In  one  census,  taken  wlien  there  were  about  o3,UU0  in 
the  State  prisons,  it  was  reported  that  about  tliree-fifths 
of  them  had  been  convicted  of  crimes  against  property, 
one-fifth  of  crimes  against  the  person,  and  one-fifth  of 
miscellaneous  offenses,  principally  drunkenness,  disorderly 
conduct,  and  vagrancy. 

From  a  bulletin  issued  but  a  few  months  ago  by  the  Cen- 
sus Office,  at  Washington,  D.  C,  is  clipped  the  following 
pertaining  to  sentences  imposed  by  the  courts  upon  prison- 
ers in  our  penal  institutions:  "Of  45,180,  2,486  were  serving 
sentences  of  less  than  one  year,  39,757  had  been  sentenced 
to  imprisonment  for  a  definite  term  of  years,  2,688  for 
life,  12  during  their  minority,  and  62  were  under  sentence 
of  death  awaiting  their  execution.  A  tendency  to  greater 
severity  of  sentence  is  apparent  in  the  South  and  West. 
The  average  sentence  of  a  native  white  convict  of  native 
parents  is  5  years  and  208  days;  of  a  foreign-born  convict, 
5  years  and  193  days:  and  of  a  colored  convict,  6  years  and 
183  days.  The  average  sentence  of  a  male  convict  is  5 
vears  and  285  days,  and  of  a  female  convict,  4  years  and 
215  days." 


Causes  and  Cures  15 


II. 

Economic  Side. 

Cost  of  Crime — Courts  Having  Criminal  Jurisdiction — Keeping 
Convicted  Criminals — The  Criminal  at  Large — Criminal  Immi- 
gration. 

In  the  study  of  criminology,  there  is  an  economical 
side,  which,  with  many  other  questions  pertaining  to  crim- 
inals, should  be  more  generally  and  thoroughly  consid- 
ered and  understood.     I  refer  to 

THE    COST    OF    CRIME. 

I  know  of  no  method  by  which  to  fully  solve  this  prob- 
lem of  cost.  It  has  in  it  too  many  obscure  elements  to  be 
solved  with  accuracy.  Yet  we  should  strive  for  a  solution 
to  the  extent  that  we  obtain  at  least  a  partial  estimate  of 
the  cost  of  criminals  within  our  own  country.  To  aid  in 
this,  I  submit  that,  according  to  our  official  census,  the 
annual  cost  to  the  United  States  for  a  preventive,  or  police 
force,  is  over  $15,000,000.  At  present  the  estimate  is 
$20,000,000.  This  does  not  include  the  cost  of  private 
detectives.  There  are  in  the  United  States  at  present  over 
two  thousand  courts  having  criminal  jurisdiction,  and 
over  eighty  thousand  justices  of  the  peace.  These,  to- 
gether with  clerks,  sheriffs,  jurors,  attorneys,  and  witnesses, 
necessarily  require  large  sums,  chargeable  to  criminal 
dockets.  Kot  estimating  the  cost  of  private  police  detec- 
tive forces,  nor  personal  loss  of  property  and  life,  nor 
other  elements,  there  is  expended  annually  in  the  United 
States,  for  preventing,  prosecuting,  and  keeping  criminals. 


16  The  Criminal  Classes 

over  $60,000,000.  At  this  rate,  the  criminal  classes  cost 
the  civilized  world,  annually,  over  $1,500,000,000.  In  the 
study  of  the  economical  side,  we  must  not  overlook  the 
fact  that  there  are 

CRIMINALS    AT    LARGE. 

Crime  has  been  defined  as  "a  war  against  the  security 
of  property,  the  rights  of  individuals,  and  the  order  of  so- 
ciety. It  is  carried  on  by  a  vast  army,  more  or  less  per- 
fectly organized,  of  which  convicted  felons  incarcerated 
in  the  penitentiary  form  but  a  small  part.  They  are,  so  to 
speak,  prisoners  of  war;  but  the  aniiy  continues  to  carry 
on  its  operations  in  the  field,  in  spite  of  its  losses  by  cap- 
ture. This  army  has  its  officers,  as  well  as  its  enlisted 
men;  and  it  is  safe  to  assume  that  those  in  command,  and 
who  reap  the  largest  pecuniary  benefit  from  crime,  do  not 
tliemselves  assume  any  personal  risk  which  they  can  in- 
duce those  under  them  to  incur  in  their  stead.  They  are 
what  has  been  called  crime  capitalists,  who  invest  their 
money  in  criminal  enterprises,  purchase  the  proceeds 
of  theft,  furni?h  board  and  lodging  to  criminals  out  of 
employment,  advance  money  to  the  principals  in  prom- 
ising schemes  for  making  a  fortune  by  fraud,  hire  lawyers 
and  witnesses  to  defend  the  more  important  members  of 
the  gang,  and.  in  rare  instances,  pay  men  to  go  to  prison 
as  substitutes  for  those  actually  guilty  of  the  offense 
charged.  Tlie  numl)er  of  those  who  live  off  of  crime,  if 
not  by  crime,  is  much  greater  than  the  uninitiated  would 
likelv  suppose.  The  cost  of  crime  to  the  community  is 
not  measured  by  the  actur.l  outlay  for  arrests,  convictions, 
and  the  maintenance  of  prisons.  The  importance  of  the 
crime  question  arises  not  so  much  from  the  number  in 
prison,  as  from  the  number  who  are  not  in  prison,  but  who 
ousxht  to  be." 


Causes  and  Cures  17 

In  the  presence  of  criminal  statistics,  American  patriots 
and  philanthropists  confront  the  statistician  with  the 
questions :  Whence  this  army  of  expensive  and  dangerous 
persons?  and  why?  There  is  hope  in  the  unrelenting 
pressure  of  these  questions.  The  more  earnestly  and  in- 
telligently these  questions  are  discussed,  the  more  success- 
fully will  the  means  necessary  to  stay  the  evil  be  applied. 

Before  discussing  the  question  of  cause,  I  think  it  highly 
important  to  call  attention  to 

CRIMINAL    IMMIGRATION". 

For  many  years  the  United  States  has  had  a  large  influx 
of  helpless  aliens  and  criminals.  Statistical  records  of 
our  benevolent  and  penal  institutions  show  proportionately 
many  more  aliens  than  natives.  When  our  total  popula- 
tion was  50,155,783,  43,475,840  were  native  born  and 
6,679,493  were  of  foreign  !)irth.  Of  110,538  convicts  _  in 
prisons  of  the  United  States,  57,824  were  foreigners,  or 
almost  five  per  cent,  over  one-half.  With  these  facts  be- 
fore us,  I  submit,  Is  it  not  due  to  our  native  population, 
due  also  to  the  vigorous  and  productive  immigrant,  that 
this  nation  protect  itself  against  the  further  imposition 
of  this  class  ?  Failing  in  this  protection,  we  shall  ere  long 
witness  this  burdensome  and  dangerous  class  in  the  propor- 
tions of  a  national  calamity,  without  strength  to  protect 
our  institutions  against  their  anarchical  and  criminal  as- 
saults. 

So  far  as  the  census  figures  show,  crime  is  prevalent 
among  immigrants  from  different  nations  in  the  following 
order,  beginning  with  the  worst:  The  West  Indies,  Spain, 
South  America,  China,  Italy,  Australia,  Ireland,  Scotland, 
France,  England,  British  America,  Eussia,  Germany, 
Poland,  Wales,  Belgium,  Sodtzerland,  Holland,  Scandi- 
navia, and  Austro-ITuno;arv. 


18  llie  Criminal  Classes 

The  foUowiug  statement,  euuiing  Itoui  reliable  au- 
thority, concerning  I'oreign-born  prisoners  will  be  found  of 
interest:  Of  J 2,681  prisoners  of  foreign  birth,  Ireland 
sends  us  5,309;  German}^,  2,0T1;  England,  1,153;  British 
America,  1,215;  China,  526;  Scotland,  414;  Mexico,  330; 
Scandinavia  (Sweden,  iSTorway,  and  Denmark),  286; 
France,  247;  Italy,  170;  the  West  Indies,  81;  Switzer- 
land, 72;  Wales,  71;  Austria  (including  Bohemia  and 
Hungary),  70;  Poland,  47;  Holland,  42;  Bussia,  39; 
Spain,  31;  South  America,  26;  Australia,  16;  the  East 
Indies,  14;  Belgium,  13;  Portugal,  10;  Africa,  8;  Greeee, 
5;  the  Sandwich  Islands,  4;  Turkey,  Malta,  and  Cen- 
tral America,  3  each;  India,  Asia,  and  the  island  of 
St.  Helena,  2  each;  Greenland,  Bermuda,  Ceylon,  Japan, 
New  Zealand,  and  the  Azores,  1  each.  Fourteen  were  born 
at  sea;  7  came  from  some  unknown  country  in  Europe; 
and  73  are  reported  as  foreign,  but  the  place  of  birth  is  not 
stated. 

The  total  numbers  given  in  the  preceding  paragi'aph  do 
not,  of  course,  indicate  the  comparative  tendencies  to  crime 
on  the  part  of  different  nationalities.     (8.  P.  B.) 


Causes  and  Cures  19 


III. 

The  Fiest  Murdeker, 
His  Crime — His  Detection — His  Conviction — His  Punishment. 
By  a  Sacred  Historian. 

"And  in  process  of  time  it  came  to  pass,  that  Cain 
brought  of  the  fruit  of  the  ground  an  offering  unto  Je- 
hovah. And  Abel,  he  also  brought  of  the  firstlings  of  his 
flock  and  of  the  fat  thereof.  And  Jehovah  had  respect 
unto  Abel  and  to  liis  offering:  but  unto  Cain  and  to  his 
offering  he  had  not  respect.  And  Cain  was  very  wroth, 
and  his  countenance  fell.  And  Jehovah  said  unto  Cain, 
Why  art  thou  wroth?  and  why  is  thy  countenance  fallen? 
If  thou  doest  well,  shall  it  not  be  lifted  up?  and  if  thou 
doest  not  well,  sin  coucheth  at  the  door.  .  .  .  And 
Cain  told  Abel  his  brother.  And  it  came  to  pass,  .  .  . 
that  Cain  rose  up  against  Abel  his  brother,  and  slew  him. 

"And  Jehovah  said  unto  Cain,  Where  is  Abel  thy  brother  ? 
And  he  said,  I  loiow  not :  am  I  my  brother's  keeper  ?  And 
he  said.  What  hast  thou  done?  the  voice  of  thy  brother's 
blood  crieth  unto  me  from  the  ground.  And  now  cursed 
art  thou  from  the  ground,  which  hath  opened  its  mouth 
to  receive  thy  brother's  blood  from  thy  hand ;  when  thou 
tillest  the  ground,  it  shall  not  henceforth  yield  unto  thee 
its  strength ;  a  fugitive  and  a  wanderer  shalt  thou  be  in 
the  earth.  And  Cain  said  unto  Jehovah,  My  punishment 
is  greater  than  I  can  bear." 

THE    CAUSE. 

In  this  case  we  find  an  admixture  of  ignorance,  a  mis- 
apprehension of  law,  jealousy,  and  anger. 


20  The  Criminal  Classes 


IV. 

A  Missing  Lixk. 

Photograph   Illustration — An    Innocent   Child — A   Family  Pet — A 
Wish  Refused — A  Mother  ^[urdered^ — An  Analysis. 

LoOKiXG  at  the  following  picture,  an  impression  comes 
that  it  is  a  representation  of  an  intelligent  and  innocent 
child,  incapable  of  viciousness.  It,  however,  is  a  true  like- 
ness of  a  1)oy  who,  when  about  twelve  years  of  age,  brutally 
murdered  his  own  mother.  It  seems  that  up  to  the  time 
of  committing  this  act  he  was  the  pet  of  the  household, 
and  especially  the  darling  of  his  mother;  and  that  almost 
universally  his  expressed  wishes  were  unhesitatingly 
granted.  On  that  fatal  morning,  however,  of  the  day  which 
brought  to  his  home  unremitting  gloom,  and  stamped  him 
as  a  monstrosity,  his  father  had  kindly  but  firmly  declined 
a  demand  which  he  made.  At  this  he  became  insolent  and 
angTy,  and  his  mother  tenderly  rebuked  him,  and  sus- 
tained the  decision  of  his  father.  This  seemed  to  stir 
within  him  a  slumbering  abnormal  nature  and  arouse 
within  him  anomalous  criminal  propensities,  which  im- 
mediately broke  over  bounds  and  led  to  the  assassination 
of  his  mother,  in  the  absence  of  his  sister  and  father. 

A  study  of  this  case  leads  to  the  opinion  that,  though 
his  intellectual  faculties  regarding  other  affairs  may  have 
been  normal,  with  regard  to  moral  conduct  there  are 
strong  indications  of  a  ])roken  or  missing  link  lietweon  the 
brain  tissues  and  the  moral  monitor.  In  company  and  in 
conversation  with  him,  it  has  seemed  impossible  to  discover 
in  hini  a  sinolo  sian  of  conscience-life. 


A    -MOi;.\L    I'AKALY'l'lC 


C^i) 


Causes  and  Cures  23 


A  ]SroTOEious  Ocean  Pirate. 

His  Parents — •When  a  Boy — A  Caj)tain  of  a  Pirate  Vessel — Noth- 
ing in  Him  to  Admire — Not  a  Single  Virtue. 

James  J).  Jeffries,  alias  Charles  Biggs,  was  born  in 
Providence,  Ehode  Island,  about  1790. 

History  says:  "Against  this  man's  parents  no  charges 
of  crime  were  ever  made,  yet  it  was  generally  believed 
that  they  were  without  methods  of  training.^^  "This  chief 
of  criminals  from  his  childhood  lived  a  life  of  self- 
indulgence." 

When  but  a  boy,  through  fear  of  arrest  for  a  robbery 
in  which  he  had  taken  part,  he  fled  to  Xew  Orleans,  thence 
to  Europe,  where  he  soon  became  the  leader  of  a  gang  of 
pirates,  and,  for  criminal  purposes,  studied  marine  life. 
He  delighted  in  exciting  mutiny  among  the  crews  of  ves- 
sels. As  captain  of  piratical  vessels,  he  directed  in  the 
capture  and  robbery  of  forty  vessels  upon  the  high  seas, 
and  the  murder  of  the  entire  crews  of  two.  His  last  crime 
was  committed  in  November,  1830,  while  a  privateer  on 
the  brig  Vineyard.  The  vessel  was  then  en  route  from 
New  Orleans  to  Philadelphia.  It  was  manned  by  Captain 
William  Thornby  and  W.  Roberts,  mate,  having  on  board 
$50,000. 

Biggs,  with  three  others  of  the  crew,  murdered  and  threw 
overboard  the  officers,  took  possession  of  the  money,  turned 
the  vessel  toward  Long  Island  coast,  and  ran  ashore  at 
Pelican  Island.  Biggs,  with  one  other,  was  arrested,  taken 
to  New  York,  tried  for  piracy  and  murder,  found  guilty, 
and  executed  on  Friday,  April  28,  1831. 


24  The  Criminal  Classes 

Historians  write  of  him  as  follows:  "Biggs  was  one  of 
those  criminals  who  present  nothing  in  life  or  conduct  we 
can  admire."'  He  was  "utterly  without  the  sort  of  energy 
that  enables  a  man  to  make  a  living  by  honest  toil."  "He 
had  not  sufficient  moral  sentiment  to  keep  him  from  the 
commission  of  crime/'  "His  entire  nature  seemed  sat- 
urated with  selfishness,  and  his  groveling  soul  was  fixed 
upon  the  low  plane  as  that  of  a  wolf  or  hyena."  "He  did 
not  seem  capable  of  reason  or  remorse."  "We  may  search 
in  vain  to  find  the  single  virtue  linked  with  a  thousand 
crimes  that  Byron  offers  in  extenuation  of  the  crimes  of 
his  corsairs." 

OBSERVATION. 

This  record  is,  doubtless,  chargeable — 

1.  To  parental  neglect  and  incompetency. 

2.  To  early  association  with  youthful  criminals  and 
participation  in  their  crimes. 

3.  To  habitual  criminal  indulgence  and  the  cultivation 
of  natural  criminal  propensities. 


A    KIDN"APER. 


(25) 


Causes  and  Cures  27 


VI. 

A   KiDNAPEE, 

The  illustration  of  a  kidnaper  represents  the  counte- 
nance of  a  woman  who,  in  mad  frenzy, 

"Sullenly  fierce — a  mixture  dire. 
Like  thunder-clouds  of  gloom  and  fire," 

stole  an  innocent  child — a  child  not  her  own,  but  belong- 
ino-  to  another,  against  whom  she  and  others  held  angry 
spite.  She  was  soon  angry,  self-willed,  and  could  stay  up 
at  night  to  hate  those  whom,  for  imaginary  reasons,  she 
disliked.  This  disposition  was  doubtless  the  result  of  early 
environments  and  unfortunate  associations. 


28  llie  Criminal  Classes 


VII. 

A  Family  of  Four  Demoxs — The  Benders. 

Wholesale    Murder    in    Kansas — A    Hotel    Slaughter-House — The 
Personnel  Of — A  Spiritual  Medium — A  Free-lover — Escape. 

This  family  consisted  of  four  persons — old  John,  his 
wife,  a  son  called  John,  and  a  daughter  named  Kate. 
They  came  to  this  country  from  Germany  when  the  last 
named  were  quite  young,  and  settled  in  Labette  County, 
Kansas.  Their  house  was  a  frame  structure,  situated  on 
a  wagon  road  leading  through  the  county  to  several  towns 
in   adjacent   counties.      They   kojDt  a   kind   of  hotel,   but 

"A  darijsome  den, 
Where  murder  reigned,  and  cruel  treachery 
Sat  with  th'  invited  guest." 

In  all  the  annals  of  American  criminals  there  is  pre- 
sented no  picture  of  horror  surpassing  that  of  the  Benders. 
^Vhethe^  induced  by  the  sign  for  entertainment,  or  drawn 
])y  the  wiles  of  Kate,  many  who  entered  that  house  en- 
tered only  to  be  stricken  down  with  the  sledge  in  the 
hands  of  old  John,  who  stood  concealed  behind  a  curtain 
Avhile  Kate,  in  some  way,  would  secure  their  attention. 

After  their  sudden  flight  from  this  den,  the  discovery 
was  made  that  no  less  than  eleven  persons  had  been  mur- 
dered by  them  and  buried  in  a  small  orchard  near  the 
house,  while  others  whom  they  miirdered  were  throwm  into 
a  river  near  by.  What  became  of  the  Benders  is  yet  a 
mystery. 

From  those  who  knew  thorn,  and  have  written  about 
them,  we  gather  the  followinu': 

"The  old  man  was  a  roi^ubivo,  bideous  brute,  witliout 
a  rofleeming  irait.  fliriy.  ))V(ifnii<\  and  ill-tciupored." 


Causes  and  Cures  29 

"■Old  Mrs.  Bender  was  a  dirty  old  Dutch  crone.  Her 
face  was  a  fit  picture  of  the  midnight  hag  that  wove  the 
spell  of  murderous  ambition  about  the  soul  of  Macbeth." 

"Young  Bender,  seen  when  excited,  recalled  the  grave- 
robbing  hyena  at  once  to  mind." 

"Kate  proclaimed  herself  responsible  to  no  one  save  her- 
self." She  professed  to  be  a  medium  of  spiritualism,  and 
delivered  lectures  on  that  subject.  In  her  lectures  she 
publicly  declared  that  murder  might  be  a  dictation  for 
good;  that  in  what  the  world  might  deem  villainy,  her 
soul  might  read  bravery,  nobility,  and  humanity.  She 
advocated  "free-love,"  and  denounced  all  social  regula- 
tions for  the  promotion  of  purity  and  the  prevention  of 
carnality,  which  she  called  "miserable  requirements  of 
self -constituted  society."  She  maintained  carnal  relations 
with  her  brother,  and  boldly  proclaimed  her  right  to  do 
so,  in  the  following  words  found  in  her  lecture  manuscript : 
"Shall  we  confine  ourselves  to  a  single  love,  and  deny  our 
natures  their  proper  sway?  .  .  .  Even  though  it 
should  be  a  brothers  passion  for  his  own  sister,  I  say  it 
should  not  be  smothered." 

How  to  account  for  these  aljnormal  creatures,  whose 
diabolical  passions  led  to  the  commission  of  the  many 
grave  deeds  of  cruelty,  lust,  and  blood,  is  indeed  a  puzzling- 
problem.  There  certainly  must  have  been  some  inherent 
defects  in  their  moral  constitution.  Aye,  more:  their  con- 
duct suggests  the  probalnlity  of  hereditary  culture  similar 
to  that  of  strongly  marked  specimens  of  animals  produced 
by  selecting  and  breeding  special  characteristics.  This 
hereditary  culture  may  possibly  obtain  through  an  uncon- 
scious mingling  of  viciousness  and  criminal  propensities  in 
cohabitation  to  an  extent  that  there  is  produced,  with 
inbred  moral  faculties  and  blunted  nature,  a  type  of  jier- 
sons  disposed  to  still  greater  criminal  strides  than  their 
ancestors. 


30  The  Cnminal  Classes 


VIII. 
Chables  Julius  Guiteau. 

Assassination  of  President  Garfield — What  the  Prisoners  in  the 
Ohio  Penitentiarj-  Thought  of  Guiteau— A  Memorial  Service — 
His  Conviction — What  His  Wife  Thought  of  Him — Analysis. 

Ox  the  second  day  of  July,  1881, 

'"Like  a  sleek  aud  crouching  panther. 
The  murderous  coward  steals  upon  his  victim," 

sending  a  whirling  missile  of  death  into  the  body  of  James 
A.  Garfield,  then  President  of  the  United  States.  The 
deed,  the  trial,  and  the  conduct  of  this  wretch  constitute 
one  of  the  most  horrible  chapters  in  the  history  of  crim- 
inals. 

I  was  then  chaplain  of  the  Ohio  Penitentiary,  and  heard 
from  many  of  the  prisoners  the  most  severe  condemnation 
of  this  fiend.  On  the  occasion  of  the  funeral  of  the  Presi- 
dent, September  26,  1881,  the  work  in  the  prison  was  sus- 
pended, and  appropriate  memorial  services  were  conducted 
in  the  chapel,  when  about  twelve  hundred  prisoners  were 
])resent.  In  connection  with  the  exercises,  one-half  hour 
was  given  for  remarks  from  prisoners,  who  were  limited  to 
five  minutes  each.  Quite  a  number  spoke,  each  in  strong 
and  emphatic  tones  denouncing  the  assassin.  One  pris- 
oner, under  sentence  for  twelve  years,  asked  permission  to 
read  a  paper  expressing  the  sense  of  the  inmates  of  the 
Ohio  Penitentiary,  with  the  request  that  it  be  submitted 
to  a  vote.  I  granted  the  request,  the  paper  was  read,  and 
by  uplifted  hands  was  imanimously  adopted.  The  follow- 
ing is  a  true  copy  of  the  paper : 


Causes  and  Cures  31 

"N\'hereas,  We,  the  prisoners  in  the  Oliio  Penitentiary,  recog- 
nize tlie  deep  affliction  and  gloom  pei-vading  the  countless  millions 
who  mourn  the  untimely  death  of  James  A.  Gartield,  our  President, 
by  an  assassin's  bullet ;  and, 

"Whekeas,  By  that  act  Guiteau  will  be  classed  among  crim- 
inals ;  we,  therefore,  declare,  and  make  known  to  all,  that  as  men 
deprived  of  our  rights  of  citizenship,  having,  by  violation  of  law, 
forfeited  all  claims  to  respect  and  protection,  unanimously  con- 
demn and  deprecate  the  act,  and  despise  the  cowardly  wretch  who 
perpetrated  the  wanton  act,  and  consign  him  to  eternal  condemna- 
tion ;  that  we  feel  that  life  for  him  is  too  good,  and  death  not  bad 
enough  ;  that  there  is  not  a  single  emotion  or  spark  of  sympathy 
for  the  assassin  in  the  hearts  of  any  of  the  prisoners  in  tliis  penal 
institution." 

When  tried,  the  defense  did  not  deny  the  killing  of  the 
President  by  the  prisoner.  The  only  defense  set  up  was  on 
a  plea  of  insanity,  or  that  at  the  time  of  the  killing  the 
prisoner  was  not  of  sound  mind,  and  therefore  was  in- 
capable of  committing  murder  in  a  legal  sense.  The  jury, 
however,  after  hearing  all  the  testimony  and  pleadings, 
reached  a  different  conclusion,  rendered  a  verdict  of  guilty, 
and  the  judge  sentenced  him  to  be  hanged  on  Friday,  June 
30,  1882. 

A  careful  analysis  of  the  evidence  submitted,  and  an 
unbiased  consideration  of  the  words  and  conduct  of  the 
prisoner,  both  immediately  preceding  and  after  the  day 
o-f  his  crime,  will  certainly  lead  to  the  conclusion  that  he 
was  a  base  composition  of  egotism  and  depravity. 
Prompted  by  an  abnormal  hunger  for  office  and  greed  for 
gain,  he  deliberately  fired  that  fatal  shot  which  robbed  the 
nation  of  a  noble  ruler  and  the  church  of  a  true  and  faith- 
ful servant. 

From  statements  made  by  Guiteau's  divorced  wife,  who 
doubtless  suffered  most  at  his  hand,  and  who  better  under- 
stood his  real  nature  than  any  other  person,  is  clipped  this 
significant  utterance,  "Whatever  he  may  have  had  of  talent 
or  ingenuity  was  used  in  devising  schemes  by  which  he 
might  illegally  obtain  money." 


32  The  Criminal  Classes 

His  own  words,  uttered  on  and  after  the  day  of  the  assas- 
sination, witness  to  his  type  of  nature: 

"A  human  life  is  of  small  value." 

"1  presume  the  President  was  a  Christian,  and  that  he 
will  be  happier  in  paradise  than  he  was  here." 

"It  will  be  no  Avorse  for  Mrs.  Gartield,  dear  soul,  to  part 
with  her  husband  this  way  than  by  natural  death." 

To  the  judge,  when  sentence  was  passed  upon  him  that 
he  should  be  hanged,  he  said,  "I  had  rather  stand  where  I 
am  than  where  the  jury  does,  or  than  whore  your  honor 
does." 

1  only  repeat  a  fact  which,  in  some  form,  has,  by  the 
many,  been  often  expressed  when  I  say  that  his  moral 
nature  was  of  the  lowest  type.  Gratitude  seemed  not  to 
dwell  with  him.  Shame  and  remorse  wore  strangers  to 
him.  From  the  moment  he  fired  the  fatal  shot,  he  seemed 
to  glory  in  his  deed.  Sir  Walter  Scott  of  such  gave  a  fit- 
ting couplet  when  he  wrote  : 

"Oh,  what  a  tangled  web  we  weave. 
When  first  we  practice  to  deceive." 

In  this  character  is  indeed  presented  a  criminal  speci- 
men in  whom  was  a  combination  of  morbid  vanity,  un- 
bridled vicionsness,  and  cunning  villainy. 

HIS    PHYSIOGNOMY. 

Of  his  facial  appearance,  one  who  attended  his  trial  and 
carefully  studied  his  nature  and  disposition,  said,  "His 
mouth  was  of  unusaal  proportions,  and  wore  a  fixed  ex- 
pression of  auger,  liis  nose  was  large  and  ill-shaped,  and 
his  eyes,  tliouch  not  small,  wore  kept  back  under  tlie  fore- 
head, and  wore  tvnioal  of  tlio  mnuiac." 


Causes  and  Cures 


33 


IX. 

A  Desperado. 

Robert  ^IcKimie — Illegitimate  Child — Drifted  from  His  Home 
When  a  Boy — Associated  with  Criminals — A  Leader  of  Out- 
laws— Highway  Robber  and  Murderer — A  Prisoner. 


ROBERT    M'kIMIE. 

EOBERT  McKiMiE,  alias  "Little  Eeddy,"  from  Texas, 
a  desperado  of  the  Black  Hill  region,  was  one  of  a  gang 
of  coach-treasure  robbers  and  a  leader  among  outlaws. 

Pie  was  an  illegitimate  child,  whose  mother,  a  young, 
innocent,  and  respected  girl,  under  promise  of  marriage, 


34  The  Criminal  Classes 

was  seduced,  and  by  her  seducer  abandoned.  When  Eob- 
ert  was  quite  young,  he  was  taken  to  be  reared  by  his 
mother's  sister,  for  whom  he  ever  entertained  a  special 
and  affectionate  regard.  She  was  a  lady  of  estimable 
traits,  and  sought  to  instill  in  Robert's  mind  lessons  of 
integrity  and  piety.  Young  Robert  is  reported  to  have 
been  rather  wild  in  his  disposition,  preferring  to  rove 
arouiid  and  over  his  native  hills,  rather  than  settle  down 
to  his  books  and  studies. 

At  the  age  of  fourteen,  he  enlisted  in  the  regular  army. 
For  some  years  after  he  left,  his  friends  received  no  tid- 
ings of  him.  Finally  his  aunt,  or  foster-mother,  received 
a  letter  from  southern  Kansas,  which  contained  a  draft 
for  fifty  dollars,  saying  he  had  quit  the  army,  and  that 
when  he  returned  home  he  would  have  plenty  of  money. 

Xothing  more  was  heard  from  him  by  his  friends  until 
he  returned  to  the  home  of  his  aunt  at  Rainsboro,  Ohio, 
in  September,  1877.  Then  he  seemed  to  have  plenty  of 
money.  Soon  he  entered  into  the  mercantile  business,  and, 
apparently,  was  leading  an  honorable  and  successful  life. 
What  he  might  or  would  have  done  had  he  not  been  dis- 
covered as  one  of  the  Texas  desperadoes  remains  an  open 
question.  He,  however,  always  declared  that  it  was  his 
purpose  to  lead  an  upright  life  after  his  return  to  Ohio. 
To  him,  however,  at  a  time  when  he  was  promising  him- 
self quiet  there  came  the  thrilling  echo  of  the  words  of 
]\Ioses,  "Be  sure  your  sin  will  find  you  out." 


FERDINAND    SEITZ, 

A  prisoner  in  tlie  Ohio  Penitentiary  for  thirty-four  years, 
by  Governor  Foster,  March  2,  1S81. 


Pardoned 


C^-) 


Causes  and  Cures  37 


X. 

Xo  Othek  Like  This. 

Ferdinand  Seitz — A  Prisoner  for  Thirty-four  Years — Strange  Ef- 
fect of  Drink— Thought  He  Killed  a  Snake — Taken  to  Ohio 
Penitentiary  from  Cincinnati  in  a  Wagon- — Pardoned  by  the 
Governor — His  Farewell  to  the  Prison — His  Subsequent  Con- 
duct. 

In  November,  1847,  before  transportation  by  railroad 
obtained  between  Cincinnati  and  Columbus,  the  sheriff 
of  Hamilton  County,  Ohio,  in  a  little  old  covered  wagon, 
to  which  was  attached  one  horse,  drove  from  Cincinnati 
to  Columbus,  Ohio,  having  in  charge  one  Ferdinand  Seitz, 
who  had  been  convicted  of  the  murder  of  a  man  named 
Adams,  and  sentenced  to  the  Ohio  Penitentiary  for  life. 
He  was  then  a  young  man  of  about  twenty-one  years. 
Having  been  from  his  native  land,  Germany,  but  a  short 
time,  he  could  speak  but  little  English. 

It  was  said,  without  contradiction,  that  in  a  barroom  in 
Cincinnati,  in  the  presence  of  Seitz  and  several  others 
Adams  exhibited  a  great  roll  of  bills,  and  some  one  of  the 
party  called  attention  to  the  money,  saying,  "Boys,  let  's 
have  that  pile."  Shortly  after  this,  the  lifeless  body  of 
Adams  was  found  by  the  roadside,  quite  a  distance  out  of 
the  city,  with  head  crushed.  Nearby  was  found  an  old 
plow-handle  stained  with  human  gore.  It  was  claimed 
that  Seitz  killed  Adams  for  his  money. 

Seitz  has  always  earnestly  maintained  his  innocence, 
and  claimed  that  two  men  who  Avere  present  when  the  roll 
of  bills  was  exhibited  were  the  guilty  parties.  He  ad- 
mitted that  he  was  in  the  vicinitv  at  or  about  the  time  of 


38  The  Criminal  Classes 

the  murder,  and  claimed  that  shortly  after  he  -was  pointed 
out  by  these  two  men  as  the  murderer,  and  arrested.  He 
further  stated  that,  not  being  aljle  to  speak  English,  he 
could  not  make  a  plea  for  himself  or  tell  the  officers  that 
the  two  guilty  men  were  the  persons  who  pointed  him  out 
as  the  murderer.  These  two  men  subsequently  appeared  in 
court  and  gave  testimony  against  Seitz. 

THE    STORY   Or    SEITZ, 

which  he  often  repeated,  was  substantially  as  follows: 
That  the  two  men,  accompanied  by  Adams,  came  to  him 
on  the  morning  of  the  day  of  the  murder  and  said  that 
they  were  going  out  to  look  at  a  farm  which  they  were 
thinking  of  buying  for  some  friends,  and  wished  him  to 
go  along.  He  consented  to  go  Avith  them.  Before  going, 
they  all  drank  something,  but  not  all  from  the  same  bottle. 
Seitz  says :  "I  first  refused  to  drink  anything,  but  finally 
said  1  would  take  some  cider.  After  some  delay,  they 
brought  me  what  they  said  was  a  superior  grade  of  cider, 
which  I  drank.  Then  we  started  for  the  land.  After 
some  time,  I  began  to  feel  very  strange,  as  I  think,  from 
the  effects  of  what  1  drank.  I  stopped,  and  said  I  could 
go  no  farther,  but  would  return  to  the  city.  The  men, 
however,  urged  me  to  go  on  with  them,  wliich  I  did.  After 
reaching  the  land,  the  men  began  what  seemed  to  be  an 
examination  of  the  laud,  but  I  felt  so  very  strange  I 
could  scarcely  see  anything.  IMy  head  was  dizzy,  and  my 
mind  seemed  to  wander  as  if  I  were  having  strange  visions. 
Soon  Adams  and  the  two  uu^n  disappeared,  and  I  saw  no 
more  of  them  for  some  time." 

He  further  stated  what  is  here  given  in  liis  exact  words: 
"I  moved  a  short  distance  from  where  I  was  when  the 
men  disappeared,  and  stopped  near  a  fence.  All  at  once 
I  did  Jiear  somebodv  sav,  'Now  I  have  vou  and  now  I  fix 


Causes  and  Cures  39 

you."  I  was  looking,  but  could  see  nobody.  1  thought  the 
voice  did  come  up  out  of  the  ground,  when  all  at  once  I  did 
see  a  great  big  rattlesnake  right  before  me.  His  eyes  were 
all  lire.  AMth  his  mouth  open  he  did  spit  fire  at  me.  Some 
of  the  sparks  did  fly  m  my  face.  1  got  hold  of  an  arm 
from  a  plow  to  defend  myself.  Then  that  man  Adams 
came  near  and  got  hold  of  a  rail  and  said,  'You  must  not 
strike  or  kill  that  snake.'  1  knocked  the  rail  out  of  that 
man's  hand.  The  snake  fought  me  just  as  hard  as  he 
could.  I  struck  the  snake  in  the  head  all  of  fourteen 
times  before  I  killed  him.  He  was  about  fourteen  feet 
long.  Then  I  said  to  the  man :  'What  have  you  done  that 
for?  What  business  had  you  to  interfere  with  me?  I 
believe  you  are  a  devil  yourself.  1  will  go  away  from  you 
and  will  have  nothing  more  to  do  with  you  at  all.'  I  did 
go  away  from  him.  I  saw  those  two  men  standing  behind 
a  tree  in  the  woods  about  two,  or  three  hundred  feet  from 
us.  I  then  went  to  a  spring  nearby,  and  while  here  the  two 
men  came  to  me  and  said  that  Adams  had  been  murdered, 
and  that  I  had  killed  him." 

In  all  interviews,  Seitz  has  steadily  maintained  that  he 
had  nothing  whatever  to  do  in  the  murder  of  Adams.  He 
would  never  admit  that  what  seemed  to  him  a  snake  might 
possibly  have  been  Adams,  Init  that  he  killed  a  snake 
always  seemed  to  him  beyond  question. 

OPIXIOX. 

After  a  careful  study  of  this  case,  I  am  most  inclined 
to  believe  that  Seitz  did  kill  Adams,  but  that  at  that  time 
he  was  under  tlie  influence  of  drugged  intoxicants  fur- 
nished hj  the  two  men  to  whom  he  refers ;  that  under  the 
strange  influence  his  mind  was  unbalanced,  his  reason 
dethroned,  and  his  will  paralyzed,  and  that  his  condition 
temporarily    was    equivalent    to    that    which    obtains    in 

3 


40  The  Criminal  Classes 

deliriiuii  tremens;  and  that,  under  this  delusive  influence, 
he  was  only  the  prepared  instrument  and  agent  for  those 
who  furnished  him  the  drink.  Another  and  possible  theory 
is,  that  the  two  men  plotted  and  committed  the  murder  of 
Adams,  and,  that  they  might  more  easily  fasten  the  guilt 
upon  this  young  German,  they  prepared  and  furnished 
him  the  admixture.  It  is  evident  that  Seitz  never  recog- 
nized himself  as  guilty  from  the  following  facts: 

1.  From  the  beginning  and  throughout  his  long  im- 
prisonment, even  when  conversing  with  those  whom  he 
regarded  as  confidential  friends,  he  asserted  his  innocence. 

2.  At  tlie  time  of  his  release,  and  after  the  pardon  of 
the  governor  was  delivered  to  him,  in  what  he  termed  liis 
"Farewell  to  the  Prison,"  and  which  he  presented  to  the 
chaplain,  he  said:  "It  is  now  thirty-four  years  since  I 
have  been  in  this  place.  Why,  that  is  almost  the  half- 
paxt  of  a  man's  life — yes,  more  than  the  half-part.  And, 
oh,  what  a  long  and  terrible  time  that  is  for  any  one,  no 
matter  what  crime  or  how  guilty  he  should  be.  I  say,  it 
is  far  too  long  a  time  for  any  one  to  be  in  such  a  place, 
but  terrible  for  me  who  was,  and  is  entirely  innocent.  Per- 
haps it  will  look  very  strange  to  some  of  you  if  I  tell  you 
that  I  have  been  absolutely  and  entirely  wrongfully  kept 
in  this  place,  but  so  it  is." 

3.  In  a  number  of  letters  received  by  the  writer  months 
after  his  release  from  the  prison,  he  insisted  with  emphasis 
that  he  was  innocent  of  the  crime  for  which  he  had  so 
long  suiiered. 

HIS    FAREWELL. 

Before  leaving  the  prison,  he  wrote  an  address,  which  he 
expected  to  read  on  Sunday.  He,  however,  left  it  in  the 
hands  of  the  chaplain.  It  covers  nineteen  pages  of  legal 
can.  very  closely  written.  The  following  is  the  closing 
paragraph  of  the  address:     "I  sympathize  with  you  all. 


Games  and  Cures  41 

because  1  know  very  well  what  it  is  to  be  a  prisoner.  I 
myself  have  wished  sometimes  in  those  dark  days  that  a 
deep  sleep  might  fall  upon  me,  that  in  death's  likeness  I 
could  embrace  death  and  so  be  at  rest  for  evermore.  What 
mind  can  conceive,  what  tongue  utter  the  dark  and  terrible 
hours  that  I  have  spent  in  this  place  ?" 

About  the  time  Seitz  was  pardoned,  some  said  that  if 
released  he  could  not  support  himself.  Subsequent  de- 
velopments, however,  proved  the  contrary.  In  a  letter 
written  about  six  months  after  his  release,  he  said,  "I  have 
steady  employment,  have  good  clothing,  and  a  deposit  in 
bank  of  $100." 


42  The  Cnminal  Classes 


XI. 

A  Political  ^Murderer. 

Civil  Strife  of  1861-1865— The  Haud  of  Neighbor  Against  Neigh- 
bor— Anger  Overbounds — A  Plot  to  Kill — Organized  Death — 
An  Influential  Citizen  Murdered  Because  of  His  Political 
V'iews — The  Asstussin  Convicted  and  Imprisoned — His  Con- 
fession— His  Pardon^ — Analysis. 

Many  signals  of  distress  still  reecho  from,  and  many 
streaks  of  human  gore  still  stain  the  pages  which  contain 
the  history  of  America's  Civil  War.  Many  unwritten  in- 
stances of  hate,  of  cruel  plotting  and  murder  may  be  nar- 
rated. Then  were  bonds  of  fraternity,  which  had  seemed 
like  mystic  cords  of  love,  snapped  asunder,  and  the  hand 
of  one  neighbor  set  firmly  against  another  neighbor.  It 
was  during  that  exciting  period  that  passion  was  "hair- 
strained"  and  "broke  over  bounds."  Then  it  was  that 
many  under  the  influence  of  anger  manifested  freaks  of 
temporary  insanity,  while  others,  with  murderous  hate, 
stealthily  plotted  against  the  lives  and  property  of  pre- 
viously recognized  valuable  citizens. 

At  this  time,  there  lived  within  the  county  of , 

State  of  Ohio,  one  D.,  an  intelligent,  industrious,  and 
prosperous  farmer,  who  was  the  recognized  leader  of  the 
community  in  all  that  tended  to  advance  public  weal. 
This  man,  up  to  the  time  of  the  political  excitement,  was 
esteemed  by  all  who  knew  him.  When  the  civil  conflict 
began,  he  openly  declared  himself  in  sjTupathy  with  the 
Federal  Government,  and  announced  his  purpose  to  give 
his  entire  influence  and  support  thereto.  For  this  he 
was  denounced  and  persecuted  by  many  of  his  neighbors. 


Causes  and  Cures  43 

In  the  summer  of  1864,  secret  organizations  were  ef- 
fected in  many  of  the  States,  whose  avowed  purpose  was 
to  oppose  all  further  prosecution  of  the  war  for  the  sup- 
pression of  the  rebellion,  and,  if  need  be,  to  this  end  to 
cooperate  with  certain  leaders  to  secure  the  recognition  of 
the  Southern  Confederacy.  As  a  supposed  result  of,  and 
under  the  dictation  of  this  organization,  Mr.  D.,  this  in- 
fluential farmer,  was  murdered  in  his  own  dooryard, 
August  10,  1861,  by  one  of  his  neighbors,  J.  C.  C,  who  was 
subsequently  arrested,  tried,  and  convicted  of  murder  in 
the  second  degree,  and  sentenced  to  the  Ohio  Penitentiary 
for  life. 

For  some  years  the  prisoner  was  quite  reticent,  in  part, 
as  he  afterwards  stated,  because  he  hoped  to  obtain  the 
influence  of  those  under  whose  advice  he  acted  in  securing 
his  pardon.  Subsequently,  however,  he  became  quite  talka- 
tive, and  would  converse  freely  about  his  crime  and  the 
influences  which  led  thereto.  In  1880,  the  murderer, 
J.  C.  C,  wrote  out  and  handed  to  the  writer,  then  his 
chaplain, 

HIS    CONFESSION". 

From  this  is  gleaned  the  principal  facts,  omitting 
names,  which  I  am  pledged  to  withhold  during  the  life- 
time of  himself  and  others  named : 

"Ohio  Penitentiary,  Columbus,  Ohio,  August  20,  1880. 
"To  Whom  it  May  Concern. 

"I,  J.  C.  C,  of  my  own  free  will  and  accord,  do  make,  publish, 
and  declare  as  true  the  following : 

"I  became  a  citizen  of  Ohio  in  1853.  I  did  not  concern  myself 
about  politics  nor  bother  about  the  war  until  after  the  Emancipa- 
tion Proclamation.  I  then  took  sides  with  the  South.  I  joined  a 
secret  political  organization  which  had  its  branches  throughout 
the  United  States,  with  C.  L.  V.  as  chief  for  the  Northern  States, 
and  P.  P.,  of  the  Southern  army,  as  chief  for  the  Confederate 
States.  Every  member  of  this  organization  was  requested  to  pay 
$100,  with  which  to  buy  guns  and  ammunition.    The  lodge  to  which 


44  The  Criminal  Classes 

I  belonged  had  about  two  thousand  members.  General  K.  prepared 
and  circulated  'A  Peace  Petition,'  but  the  Abolitionists  refused  to 
sign  it. 

"At  one  meeting,  when,  because  of  sickness,  I  was  absent,  it  was 
resolved  that  one  D.  should  be  put  to  death  (dispatched)  because 
he  refused  to  sign  the  'Peace  Petition,'  and  I  and  another  man  were 
selected  for  the  pui"pose,  so  1  was  afterward  informed.  I  lived  at 
that  time  on  the  farm  south  of  D.'s  residence. 

"My  cows  got  out  of  my  pasture  and  went  to  D.'s.  He  set  hia 
dogs  on  them.  I  had  no  gun,  so  I  went  to  D.  K.'s  house  and  told 
him  that  D.  had  dogged  my  cows.  He  said,  'Now  is  your  time  to 
dispatch  him,'  and  said  T  should  go  over  to  Y.'s  and  borrow  his 
gun,  and  that  he  would  lend  me  his  revolver.  I  went  to  Y.'s,  but 
he  was  not  at  home.  I  told  Mrs.  Y.  that  I  wanted  the  gun  to 
shoot  D.'s  dogs.  She  gave  it  to  me,  with  ammunition.  D.  K. 
further  said,  'When  D.  interferes  with  your  shooting  his  dogs,  give 
him  the  contents  of  my  revolver.'  which  he  loaded  and  handed  to 
me.  I  went  to  D.'s  at  11 :  00  a.  m..  August  10,  1SG4.  When  I  en- 
tered his  yard,  I  passed  D..  but  said  nothing.  I  went  on  the  north 
side  of  his  house,  he  followed  me,  and  I  shot  him." 

THE   MURDERER 

was  a  man  of  famil}',  possessed  a  fair  degree  of  natural 
ability,  with  very  limited  education.  He  was  capable  of 
managing  his  own  aifairs  when  free  from  the  dictation  of 
others.  He  lacked  much  in  perceptive  and  reasoning  fac- 
ulties, yielded  readily  to  persuasion,  especially  when 
mingled  with  flattery.  He  manifested  some  will  power, 
which,  however,  was  unsteady  and  easily  dethroned.  His 
table  for  computing  righteousness  was  defective,  his  scales 
for  valuing  integrity  were  unreliable,  and  his  moral  moni- 
tor was  paralyzed.  He  was  indeed  an  easy  prey  for  the 
conscienceless  political  schemer.    He  was  pardoned  in  18 — . 


Causes  and  Cures 


45 


XII. 
Took  the  Wron^g  Egad. 


GUSTAVE   ADOLPir    OHE. 

A  Reader  of  Sensational  Literature — Father  Dead — A  Good  Musi- 
cian— He  Played  Violin  at  Balls  and  Concerts — Murdered  a 
Man  for  His  Watch — Con\  icted  and  Executed  with  his  Accom- 
plice. 

"He  that  once  sins,  like  he  that  slides  on  ice. 
Goes  swiftly  down  the  slippery  ways  of  vice, 
Though  conscience  checks  him,  yet,  those  rubs  gone  o'er, 
He  slides  on  smoothly  and  looks  back  no  more." 

— Drydeti. 


46  The  Criminal  Clashes 

GusTAVE  A.  OiiE,  at  the  time  of  his  arrest,  was  between 
seventeen  and  eighteen  years  of  age.  He  was  born  in 
Bavaria,  German}-,  and  came  with  his  parents  to  this  coun- 
try wlien  he  was  between  one  and  two  years  of  age.  Soon 
after,  his  father  died,  and  his  mother  remarried.  Though 
naturally  of  quick  perception,  his  early  education  was  con- 
siderably neglected,  and  he  was  allowed  to  run  at  large 
through  the  city  of  Chicago,  Illinois,  where  he  then  lived. 
HaV'ing  a  natural  gift  for  music,  he  soon  learned  to  play 
the  violin  and  other  instruments,  and  his  services  were 
frequently  given  at  balls  and  parties  and  free  concerts  of 
questionable  character.  He  had  also  become  a  great  lover 
of  reading,  but  he  generally  selected  w'hat  is  known  as 
''yellow-covered  literature,"  '"'blood  and  thunder  stories," 
etc.  His  was  a  warm-hearted  disposition,  with  a  strong 
will  force. 

When  about  seventeen  years  of  age,  he  determined  to 
venture  from  home  and  tramp  eastward.  When  near  Fort 
Wayne,  Indiana,  he  fell  into  company  with  an  old  gentle- 
man and  a  young  man,  who  were  also  tramping.  The 
three  traveled  together  until  they  reached  Stark  County, 
Ohio,  where  the  two  young  men,  or  boys,  murdered  the 
old  gentleman  while  he  was  asleep,  for  his  watch  and  some 
money.  Ohr  was  arrested,  found  guilty  of  murder  in  the 
first  degree,  and  executed,  June  25,  1880.  It  seems  quite 
conclusive  that  parental  neglect,  impure  literature,  and 
vicious  com])auions  were  all  responsible  for  this  ruined 
life  and  forced  death. 


Causes  and  Cures 


47 


XIII. 

One  of  Two. 

A  Boy  Murderer  Pays  the  Peualty  liy  Hanging. 

"The  friendships  of  the  world  are  oft 
Confederacies  in  vice,  or  leagues  of  pleasure." 

— Addison, 
"Uncertain  ways  unsafest  are." 

— .S'tr  J.  Denham. 


GEORGE    E.    MANN". 


George  E.  Mann,  the  companion  of  Gustave  A.  Ohr 
in  the  nmrder  of  John  Wattmaugh,  near  Canton,  Ohio, 
and  with  whom  he  was  hanged,  June  25,  1880,  was  born 
in  New  York,  and  was  of  English  parentage.    His  mother 


48  The  Criminal  Classes 

died  when  he  was  quite  young,  and  Ms  father  soon  re- 
married and  removed  to  Kansas.  At  the  age  of  fifteen 
3^ears,  he  started  to  tramp  his  way  from  Kansas  to  'New 
York.  He  seems  to  have  lacked  moral  courage,  veracity, 
and  will  force.  He  might,  however,  have  heen  a  very  dif- 
ferent character  and  lived  an  upright  life,  but  for  the  early 
death  of  a  mother,  the  indifference  of  a  father,  early  evil 
associations,  and  bad  reading. 


Causes  and  Cures 


49 


XIV. 

One  Step  Leads  to  Another. 


.JOHN  sammett. 

An  Adventurer — A  Treacherous  Youth — Killed  a  Youthful  Com- 
paniou  Because  He  Refused  to  Bear  False  Witness — Executed 
with  Two  Others. 

"Crime  leads  to  crime  as  brook  in  brook  doth  flow, 
Until  at  last  death's  ocean  swallows  all." 

— Marloioe. 

John  Sammett  mnrdered  a  3'outhful  associate,  because 
he  refused  to  hear  false  testimony  in  a  suit  pending 
wherein  Sammett  Avas  charged  with  burglar}^  and  larceny. 


50  The  Criminal  Classes 

His  parents  were  of  German  extraction,  and  were  respected 
and  esteemed  citizens.  His  mother  died  when  he  was  a 
small  child,  and  his  father  married  again.  John  soon 
became  restless,  and  was  inclined  to  wanderings.  One  who 
knew  him  writes:  "Early  in  life  young  Sammett  imbibed 
a  taste  for  adventure,  impelled,  no  doubt,  by  reading  low 
and  exciting  literature,  and  without  the  restraining  in- 
fluences of  a  loving  mother.  He  was  soon  known  to  the 
officers  of  Massillon  as  a  boy  that  would  stand  considerable 
watching.  Though  detected  in  several  petty  thefts,  his 
relatives  would  see  that  the  fines  were  paid,  or  some  settle- 
ment made,  so  that  John  would  secure  his  discharge  from 
custody." 

He  was  executed  at  Canton,  Ohio,  with  Ohr  and  ]\Iann, 
June  25,  1880.  From  some  cause  his  tendencies  were 
downward,  his  inclinations  vicious,  and  his  moral  percep- 
tive faculties  Idunted,  if  not  totally  paralyzed. 


CaiLses  and  Cures  51 


XV. 

Thrillin'g  Incident. 

A  Wayward  Brother  Fouud  When  Dead — A  Sister's  Great  Con- 
cern About  His  Salvation— Identity  Confirmed  by  a  Ring — 
His  Sickness  and  Death — His  Friends  Remove  His  Body — Let- 
ters from  a  Sister  to  the  Chaplain.  * 

isEARLY  three-fourths  of  a  century  ago,  there  lived  in 
a  well-regulated  community  in  one  of  our  prosperous  com- 
monwealths, an  interesting,  prosperous,  and  pious  family, 
consisting  of  the  father,  mother,  two  sons,  and  two  daugh- 
ters. At  the  family  altar,  daily,  these  bowed  in  fervent 
prayer  that  God's  blessing  might  overshadow  them,  that 
his  grace  might  sustain  them,  and  that  they  each  might  be 
kept  from  the  evils  which  are  in  the  world. 

M^hen  the  youngest  of  the  children  was  but  two  years 
old,  the  father  slept  the  sleep  of  death.  Some  years  later, 
the  mother  died,  also.  The  education  and  care  of  the 
children  were,  however,  well  provided  for. 

The  elder  son.  with  a  fair  education,  entered  manhood. 
He  gathered  for  himself  and  family  a  sufficient  amount 
of  worldly  goods  to  make  them  comfortable  and  happy, 
and,  because  of  his  recognized  ability  and  integrity,  on 
invitation  of  the  President  of  the  United  States,  repre- 
sented this  Government  in  one  of  the  influential  foreign 
courts.  ^ 

The  two  daughters  each  had  a  good  education,  a  well- 
recognized  social  standing,  and  a  well-defined  reputation 
for  integrity  and  piety. 

John,  the  younger  son,  obtained  a  fair  education  in  the 
common  schools,  and,  with  the  continued  efforts  of  his  sis- 


52  The  Criminal  Classes 

ters,  retained  the  early  impressions  for  good  made  upon 
his  mind  by  his  mother  and  sisters  in  their  home.  He 
soon,  however,  gave  evidences  of  a  restless  nature  and  a 
roving  disposition.  Xotwithstanding  the  entreaties  of  his 
brother  and  pleadings  of  his  sisters,  he  soon  began  to  rove, 
and  was  frequently  seen  in  strange  company.  For  a  while 
he  kept  his  sisters  informed  as  to  his  locations,  and  at  in- 
tervals would  visit  them.  Step  by  step  and  year  after  year 
he  descended,  until  his  associations  were  almost  entirely 
with  the  professional  criminals  of  the  country,  and  he 
became  one  of  them,  and  suffered  incarceration  in  several 
of  the  penal  institutions,  but  always  under  some  assumed 
name,  to  keep  all  information  from  his  friends. 

This  man,  under  the  assumed  name  of  John  May,  was 
received  at  the  Ohio  Penitentiary  in  1875,  under  charge 
of  burglary  and  larceny.  He  entered  upon  liis  imprison- 
ment without  a  murmur,  his  conduct  and  spirit  seemingly 
that  of  one  who  had  previously  counted  the  cost  and  de- 
termined to  take  the  risk.  He  made  few  requests  and  re- 
mained quite  reticent.  His  physical  condition  was  ab- 
normal when  he  entered  the  prison.  He  continued  to 
decline,  gradually,  and  was  finally  ordered  to  the  prison 
hospital,  where  I  had  frequent  interviews  with  him  touch- 
ing his  former  life  and  future  outlook,  but  could  obtain 
from  him  no  information  touching  his  relatives,  beyond 
that  they  were  wealthy,  honorable,  and  of  high  social 
standing;  and  that  for  their  sake  he  had  determined  to  die 
unknown.  Every  reasonable  effort  was  made  to  induce  him 
to  give  the  name  of  some  friend  to  whom  the  aiTthorities 
might  telegraph,  in  the  event  of  death.  To  the  last  mo- 
ment he  resisted,  saying,  "Do  with  my  body  what  you 
please,  but  my  relatives  must  never  know  that  I  was  a 
criminal,  and  died  in  prison."  He  died  in  the  prison  hos- 
pital, January  IG,  1881. 


Causes  and  Cures  53 


A   PROBLEM. 


What  the  influences,  and  when  set  in  motion,  which 
turned  this  life  out  of  the  paths  of  integrity  and  piety 
and  forced  it  thitherward,  is,  indeed,  a  question  for  study. 
Possibly  the  solution  lies  covered  up  in  both  sensational 
literature  and  evil  companions,  which  found  their  way  into 
the  home  without  the  recognition  of  the  mother  and  sisters. 

HIS   RELATIVES    FOUND. 

Prior  to  May's  death,  a  former  criminal  associate,  who 
was  also  doing  penal  service,  was  assigned  to  the  hospital 
as  nurse  for  May.  He  knew  both  May  and  his  relatives, 
and,  after  May's  death,  informed  the  officials  where,  by 
telegraph,  the  brother  of  the  dead  man  might  be  reached. 
A  telegram  was  immediately  sent,  and  an  answer  received 
saying  that  the  brother  was  on  his  way  to  care  for  the 
body.  On  his  arrival,  accompanied  by  a  friend  who  had 
seen  John  later  than  his  brother,  the  body  was  carefully 
scrutinized,  and  all  possible  inquiry  made.  Finally  it  was 
decided  that  the  body  was  indeed  that  of  the  lost  and 
wandering  brother,  and  it  was  taken  and  deposited  in  a 
city  vault. 

At  the  request  of  this  brother,  with  the  view  of  extend- 
ing comfort  and  additional  information,  I,  as  chaplain, 
wrote  to  one  of  the  sisters,  Mrs.  M.  This  was  the  begin- 
ning of  quite  an  extended  correspondence,  to  which  refer- 
ence is  made  below.  During  this  correspondence,  and 
from  other  sources  of  information,  it  became  quite  evident 
that  there  yet  remained  doubts  as  to  the  identity  of  May, 
he  having  been  absent  from  all  his  friends  for  over  eighteen 
years,  and  I  was  urged,  if  possible,  to  find  additional  evi- 
dences. This  became  known  among  the  prisoners,  and  a 
few  who  were  well  acquainted  with  May  and  who  had  asso- 


54  Tlie  Criminal  Classes 

cdations  with  him  out  of  prison  furnished  some  evidences 
tending  to  further  confirm  the  facts  previously  given. 
Finally,  a  prisoner  who  watched  with  John  the  night  of 
his  death  came  to  me  and  said,  "The  night  of  John's  death, 
he  took  from  his  finger  this  ring  and  put  it  on  my  finger, 
saying,  "This  is  a  gift  from  my  sister,  Mrs.  J\I.,  which  she 
placed  on  my  finger  the  last  time  I  saw  her.' "  This  ring 
contained  the  initials  of  both  Mrs.  ]\I.  and  her  brother,  and 
was  immediately  forwarded  to  her.  On  receipt  of  this 
ring,  the  identity  of  her  brother  was  fully  confirmed,  as 
she  at  once  recognized  the  ring  and  recalled  the  occasion. 

The  correspondence,  however,  continued  further.  Every 
letter  from  ]\[rs.  M.  clearly  indicated  that  the  burden  of 
her  spirit  was  the  concern  for  the  salvation  of  her  brother. 
See  how  she  grasped  for  evidences  looking  toward  this. 
It  is  to  this  end,  and  more,  that  the  reader  may  gain  a  fair 
idea  of  the  spirit,  the  culture,  and  piety  of  this  woman 
who  was  so  closelv  related  to  a  confirmed  criminal,  that  I 
insert  the  following : 

EXTRACTS    FROM    THE    LETTERS    OF    JOHN"    MAY'S    SISTER. 

Rev.  D.  R.  Miller,  January  20,  1881. 

Dear  Sir :  Yoflr  most  anxiously  looked-for  letter  reached  me 
since  noon,  and  I  thank  you  for  it;  and,  oh,  so  much  for  minister- 
ing to  my  beloved  brother.  While  I  try  to  bow  with  submission  to 
the  will  of  my  dear  Lord  and  Savior, — who  is  my  only  refuge  In 
this  hour  of  trial, — my  distress  is  very  great.  My  dear  John  was 
the  youngest  of  our  little  flock,  and  was  left  an  orphan  at  a  vei-y 
early  age ;  and  while  dearly  loving  my  dear  sister  and  dear  oldest 
l)rothcr,  poor,  dear  .John  lay  nearest  my  heart;  and  now,  mingled 
with  bitter  tears,  is  reproach  that  I  did  not  have  search  made  for 
him.  1  heard  la.st  from  him  from  Cincinnati,  and  my  sister  and 
myself  wrote  to  that  city,  directing,  as  he  had  requested,  to  the 
care  of  a  friend  of  his.  That  person,  after  some  time,  returned  our 
letters  all  together  in  a  package  and  wrote  that  he  was  not  there. 
As  in  the  past. — at  different  periods, — we  would  not  hear  from  him 
for  a  length  of  time,  we  wo^re  always  hoping  that  we  would  hear 
from  him.     Last  autumn,  I  heard  he  was  in  Iowa.     He  was  always 


Causes  and  Cures  55 

a  dear  and  lo\ing  brother.  How  unselfish  he  was,  for  he  surely 
knew  that  if  he  had  written  in  187S,  and  told  us  where  he  was, 
and  that  his  health  was  impaired,  effective  means  would  have  been 
taken  to  bring  him  away.  Oh,  what  a  mistaken  kindness  it  was 
not  to  let  us  know  !  You  write  me  that  about  four  weeks  ago  you 
said  to  him.  "How  are  youV"  and  "Have  you  hope  of  salvation?" 
He  said,  "Yes.  1  have  some  hope  yet."  Could  it  be  that  he  mistook 
you  and  thought  you  meant  hope  of  living'.'  Oh,  if  I  could  only  be 
sure  of  his  salvation  I  could  be  comforted !  Did  darling  John  think 
we  should  never  hear  of  his  death"?    Did  he  read  the  Scriptures? 

M. 

February  1,  1881. 
My  dear  Friend  :  Last  week,  I  received  your  most  kind  letter 
of  January  24.  It  afforded  me  some  comfort.  I  carry  it  about  me 
and  read  it  over  and  over  again.  Y"ou  point  me  to  the  only  source 
of  true  consolation.  How  should  we  do  without  that  dear  Savior 
of  whose  sympathy  we  are  sure,  and  who,  we  know,  is  ever  willing 
to  receive  with  loving,  outstretched  arms  the  greatest  sinner  who 
comes  to  him  with  true  penitence  and  faith.  His  precious  blood 
can  wash  away  all  sin.  Oh.  what  would  I  not  do  to  be  sure  that 
my  darling  brother  had  that  repentance  and  faith  unto  life  eter- 
nal. The  fear  that  it  might  not  be  so  is  too  agonizing.  O  my  dear 
sir,  I  beg  that  Avhen  you  think  of  or  remember  anything  penitent  or 
respecting  his  soul's  salvation  that  he  said,  you  will  write  it  down, 
so  that  you  will  not  forget  it,  and  sometime  write  it  to  me.  I  am 
so  thankful  that  he  had  an  earnest  Christian  minister  with  him,  to 
lead  him  to  Christ :  one  that  was  kind  and  faithful  to  him.  I  hope 
and  believe  that  God  will  richly  reward  you,  and,  oh,  I  thank  you  so 
sincerely. 

How  did  my  brother  appear  to  feel  about  his  salvation  when  you 
last  talked  to  him?  How  long  before  his  death  did  he  know  that 
he  could  not  recover?  M. 

February  9,  1881. 
My  dear  FRIE^"D :  I  wrote  to  you  a  few  days  since,  but  I  feel 
constrained  to  write  to  you  again  to-day.  My  brother  A is  ab- 
sent, and  I  can  think  of  nothing  but  my  poor,  dear  John.  .  .  . 
I  know  that  the  blessed  Savior  is  merciful  and  ready  to  receive 
every  penitent  soul,  but  we  must  repent  and  believe  on  him  to  be 
saved.  Oh,  if  I  could  be  sure  that  my  beloved  brother  believed 
unto  life  eternal,  I  should  not  shed  so  many  bitter  tears  as  I  do. 
How  I  do  reproach  myself  for  not  seeking  him  out,  but  I  thought 
it  would  be  as  in  the  past- — that  he  was  wandering  somewhere,  and 
that  I  should  see  him  again.     .     .     .     O  dear  sir,  if  you  can  re- 


56  The  Criminal  Classes 

member  any  word  he  said  that  would  afford  me  any  comfort,  do 
please  write  it.  Do  you  think  he  understood  what  it  is  to  believe 
on  and  rest  in  Christ?  M. 

Febkuary  10,  ISSl. 
My  deak  Friend  :  Yesterday  I  was  quite  alone,  and  sought  relief 
for  my  sad  thoughts  by  writing  to  you.  Before  sending  my  letter, 
I  received,  this  morning,  your  most  truly  kind  letter.  It  comforts 
me  to  hear  from  you,  and.  although  you  have  answered  almost 
every  question  I  have  asked  j-ou,  in  this  of  j'esterday,  in  the  one 
received  to-day,  or  in  your  previous  letters,  I  will  send  it  with  this. 
.  .  .  Oh,  what  a  comfort  those  words  of  yours,  in  your  first 
letter,  were  to  me,  "I  hope  at  the  bright  dawn  of  eternity  you  may 
greet  him  in  glory."  If  I  could  be  assured  of  that,  I  would  indeed 
be  comforted.    I  have  seldom,  in  many,  many  years,  seen  my  brother 

A weep,  but  when  he  road  that,  he  could  not  restrain  tears. 

Do,  my  dear  sir,  pray  earnestly  for  his  conversion.  .  .  .  Far- 
don  me  for  saying  so  much  to  you,  but  I  feel  that  you  understand 
and  enter  into  my  feelings  and  know  how  anxious  I  must  be  to 
hear  any  words  that  would  indicate  true  repentance  and  sorrow  for 
sin.  M. 

March  26,  1881. 
My  dear  Frie.\d  :  I  have  received  your  kind  letter  of  the  23d 
inst.,  inclosing  the  ring  I  gave  my  poor,  dear  John  so  many,  many 
years  ago.  Oh,  what  memories  it  awakened.  If  I  could  then  have 
gazed  down  the  vista  of  years  and  imagined  under  what  circum- 
stances it  would  be  returned  to  me,  how  could  I  have  borne  it? 
Hov/  good  and  gracious  our  Heavenly  Father  is  in  concealing  the 
future  from  us.     This  day  ten  weeks  ago  he  breathed  his  last. 

M. 

April,  1881. 
Please  present  my  love  to  dear  ]Mrs.  Miller.  I  do  not  regard  her 
as  a  stranger,  but  as  a  kind  friend,  who  took  an  interest  in  one  of 
my  dearest  ones,  who  had  no  kindred  near  his  dying  bed  to  close 
his  eyes.  O  my  dear  sir,  I  cannot  help  thinking  of  those  last  weeks 
and  days  of  his  life,  when  he  knew  that  he  must  die,  alone,  without 
a  single  loved  one  near  him.  .  .  .  My  brother  and  sou  both 
have  told  me  how  kindly  your  dear  wife  spoke  to  them.  I  wish  I 
could  thank  her  in  person.  Your  sister  in  the  Lord, 

M. 

April  13. 
Did  dear  John  ever  speak  to  you  on  the  subject  of  religion,  or 
appear  to  have  any  anxiety  about  his  salvation,  before  he  was  told 
that  he  could  not  recover?    Oh,  how  I  wish  I  could  talk  with  you. 

M. 


Causes  and  Cures  57 


XVI. 

Double  Personality — Two  CnARACTEEs  Seemingly 
Combined  in  One. 

Strange  Parallels — The  Other  Side — A  Psychological  Study. 


Psychological  Analysis  of  Fredericli  Hallman,  the  Brute  and  Murder- 
er, and  Fredericli  Hallman,  the  Religious  Enthusiast. 

BY    W.    0.    KROHN, 
Professor  of  Psychology  at  the  University  of  Illinois. 


Frederick  Hallman  was  born  in  Brandenburg,  Ger- 
Taanj,  and  came  to  the  United  States  in  1883. 

It  is  one  of  the  anomalies  that  have  long  puzzled  the 
students  of  mental  science  that  the  murderer  who  will  kill 
and  mutilate  his  victim  in  a  horrible  manner  will,  at  the 
same  time,  tenderly  care  for  the  crippled  dog  which  he  has 
adopted  for  his  pet  or  manifest  the  kindliest  feelings 
toward  the  sparrow  with  broken  wing  that  has,  by  chance, 
fallen  through  the  grated  bars  of  his  prison  cell.  That  one 
and  the  same  could  be  guilty  of  gross  cruelties  and  be 
unable  to  experience  remorse,  while,  at  the  same  time,  he 
would  manifest  a  rare  tenderness  of  feeling,  seems  almost 
incredible.  The  same  brain  gave  forth  impulses  in  directly 
opposite  tendencies;  it  was  the  source  of  the  most  tender 
sentiment  and  also  of  the  best  passion  to  kill.  The  same 
heart  that  at  times  thrilled  with  the  highest  and  loftiest 
emotions  that  men  ever  experience,  at  other  times  was  im- 
perturbable as  cold  steel,  without  a  qualm  or  quiver,  as  its 
possessor  would  throttle  his  victim,  a  helpless  woman,  and 
kill  her  if  she  did  not  yield. 


58  The  Criminal  Classes 

STRANGE    PARALLELS. 

A  German  criniinal  having  murdered  his  sweetheart 
most  cruelly,  went  back  to  her  house  to  let  out  a  canary 
bird  which  might  suli'er  for  want  of  food.  Lacenaire,  on 
the  same  day  he  committed  a  murder,  risked  his  life  to 
save  that  of  a  cat.  Can  these  impulses  be  attributed  to  one 
and  the  same  self,  or  is  there  really  a  dual  self,  a  double 
personality,  taking  abode  in  the  same  hody'r 

The  questions  all  suggest  themselves  when  one  thinks  of 
the  suhject  of  this  sketch,  who,  in  1897,  was  hanged  at 
Paxton,  Illinois,  for  the  shockingly  brutal  murder  of  Mrs. 
Gedde.  To  him  are  attributed  no  less  than  five  similar 
murders  of  women,  and,  in  addition,  at  least  eight  different 
attempts  to  murder.  The  ^vriter  of  this  article,  through 
an  order  of  the  Circuit  Court,  has  had  committed  to  him 
the  hrain  of  Hallman,  for  the  purpose  of  careful  micro- 
scopic examination  at  the  psychological  laboratory  of  the 
University  of  Illinois.  Even  a  cursory  and  superficial 
examination  reveals  that  it  is,  in  many  points,  the  typical 
brain  of  a  born  criminal.  It  is  in  no  sense  a  normal  brain, 
but  certain  striking  characteristics  compel  one  to  call  it  the 
brain  of  a  degenerate.  From  Hallman's  history,  one  is 
compelled  to  believe  that  so  far  as  one  side  of  his  nature 
■was  concerned  he  Avas  a  homicidal  novice  maniac. 

The  base  villainy  of  Hallman,  or  Ilartman,  as  he  some- 
times called  himself,  was  shown  very  clearly  in  the  cool 
calculation  and  well-thought-out  and  carefully  planned 
methods  with  which  he  attempted  his  criminal  deeds.  In 
every  instance,  he  employed  the  same  tactics,  as  has  been 
testified  by  those  of  his  victims  who  fortunately  happened 
to  escape  Mith  their  lives.  He  would  seize  the  victim  l)y 
both  the  wrists  with  his  hands,  and  with  an  upward  swing, 
keeping  liold  of  the  wrists,  would  jiress  his  tliuml)s  against 
the  victim's  throat  to  prevent  an  outcry.    Wc  speak  thus  in 


Causes  and  Cures  59 

detail  to  show  the  cool  villainy  of  the  murderer.  The 
same  methods  were  used  in  every  case,  and  never  once  has 
he  ever  e\iiibited  the  least  remorse  for  his  horrible  mis- 
deeds. For  seven  or  eight  years  he  has  been  ruthlessly  pur- 
suing this  same  liendish  course,  until  his  crimes  seemed 
nothing  but  matter  of  fact  occurrences  to  him. 

THE    OTHER    SIDE. 

Xow,  as  to  the  other  side  or  pliase  of  his  personality. 
The  statement  read  on  the  scaffold  for  Hallman  was  as 
follows:  "I  must  die,  and  find  my  death  in  this  way.  I 
hold  no  malice  toward  any  one.  I  freely  forgive  as  I  ask 
God,  for  Christ's  sake,  to  forgive  me.  Think  not  that  I 
must  close  my  lips  because  another  speaks  for  me.  I  am 
not  guilty  of  the  crime  for  which  I  die.  I  leave  it  all  with 
God.  I  believe  that  one  who  does  not  confess  to  God  his 
sins  is  eternally  lost.  I  have  confessed  to  God  and  trust 
in  him.  The  rich,  instead  of  spending  their  money  for 
the  theater  and  the  opera,  should  build  hospitals  and  alms- 
houses for  the  poor.  Some  day  those  who  spend  money  in 
this  way  may  find  themselves  in  the  condition  of  the  rich 
man  who  despised  the  poor  Lazarus.  I  am  glad  that  I  am 
so  near  the  end.  I  ask  that  my  body  be  sent  to  Grand 
Haven,  Michigan,  and  placed  beside  that  of  my  wife  and 
child.  Through  the  Rev.  M.  G.  Wilson's  efforts  I  have 
been  saved.    1  thank  him  for  his  kindness." 

In  the  original  statement,  as  dictated  by  the  murderer,, 
were  two  sentences  that  showed  much  bitter  rancor  toward 
the  ministers  who  had  first  called  on  him  and  refused  him 
the  sacrament.  At  the  suggestion  of  the  other  ministers, 
who  accompanied  him  to  the  scaffold,  he  permitted  those 
two  sentences  to  be  cut  out.  Most  of  his  time  in  jail  was 
spent  in  singing  hymns  and  repeating  Scripture  verses. 
He  was  very  proud  of  his  Bible,  and  on  it  was  inscribed 


60  The  Criminal  Classes 

in  gold  letters,  "As  for  me  and  my  house,  we  will  serve 
the  Lord.'"'  This  he  carefully  held  toward  the  camera  when 
his  picture  was  taken  on  the  scaffold. 

With  all  of  the  religious  fervor  he  displayed,  in  the  most 
emotional  outbursts,  he  could  never  be  persuaded  to  make 
a  confession  of  his  crimes.  Once  he  seemed  to  be  on  the 
point  of  confessing  his  guilt  of  the  horrible  misdeeds  at- 
tributed to  him,  but  he  was  interrupted  for  a  moment,  and 
remorse  never  could  again  twinge  him  with  sufficient  power 
to  extort  a  single  word  of  acknowledgement  of,  or  sorrow 
for  his  crimes,  and  yet,  at  the  same  time,  he  would  sing, 
"Nearer,  my  God,  to  thee,"  or  "Jesus,  Lover  of  my  soul," 
or  some  other  sacred  hymn — too  sacred,  indeed,  to  be  pro- 
faned by  such  remorseless  lips. 

A   PSYCHOLOGICAL    STUDY. 

To  the  psychologist  it  is  almost  an  utter  impossibility 
to  reconcile  the  spirit  of  the  man  truly  penitent  for  his 
misdeeds,  the  spirit  of  deep  humility,  with  that  of  the 
most  arrogant  vanity  displayed  by  such  criminals  as  Fred- 
erick Hallman.  The  vanity  of  the  boy  criminal,  or  the 
criminal  by  heredity,  is  a  well  established  fact,  and  is  evi- 
denced in  both  his  intellectual  and  emotional  activities. 
Such  vanity  as  Hallman  displayed  testifies  most  forcefully 
to  his  false  estimate  of  life  and  of  himself,  as  well  as  to 
his  egotism  and  self-delight  in  admiration. 

One  of  Hallman's  most  beseeching  requests  was  that  he 
might  have  a  coffin  with  a  glass  in  it,  that  others  might 
have  the  privilege  of  looking  on  his  face.  This  request 
was  no  doubt  due  to  the  fact  that  in  his  German  home  dis- 
trict a  ready-made  casket  such  as  we  have  here  is  unknown. 
The  l)urial  case  is  made  by  hand  by  the  village  carpenter, 
and  is  very  simple  in  form  and  finisli.  Hallman  thought 
himself  greatly  honored  liy  being  the  only  member  of  his 


Causes  and  Cures  61 

father's  family  buried  in  a  casket  with  a  glass  cover.  On 
the  morning  of  the  execution  he  asked  to  see  the  casket 
that  had  been  secured  for  his  burial.  This  request  was 
granted  to  him,  and  he  took  great  pleasure  finding  the 
glass  in  the  cover,  and  he  felt  of  the  satin  lining  with  his 
fingers,  expressing  himself  as  greatly  delighted  thereat. 
Xot  the  slightest  trace  of  fear  or  dread  seemed  to  cross  his 
mind. 

AV'hen  the  death  warrant  was  read  to  him  a  moment  later, 
he  was  completely  indifferent.  This  is  all  the  more  strange 
when  it  is  remembered  that  at  times  he  would  break  into 
the  most  violent  sobs  and  passionate  outbreaks.  When 
some  hymns  were  sung  to  him,  at  his  request,  the  day  be- 
fore, he  cried  like  a  child,  and  his  spiritual  advisers 
thought  he  certainly  had  the  contrite  heart  of  a  penitent 
man.  Yet,  on  the  same  day,  when  his  picture  was  taken 
while  standing  on  the  death-trap  of  the  gallows,  he  mani- 
fested the  most  marked  vanity  conceivable.  From  every 
particular  about  this  pose,  with  chin  pointed  out  and  head 
up  in  the  air,  one  would  think  he  regarded  himself  in  his 
self-centered,  vain  conceit  as  the  envy  of  all  men.  To  the 
very  last  this  vanity  remained  as  a  marked  mental  charac- 
teristic. In  a  hundred  ways  Hallman  showed  his  supreme 
conceit,  yet  at  the  same  time  his  other  self  was  engrossed 
in  citing  scripture,  humming  religious  hymns,  and  indulg- 
ing in  prayer  and  incantations.  How  a  man  with  any 
realization  of  his  position  1)efore  the  great  Judge  of  the 
universe  could  at  the  same  time  manifest  such  consummate 
vanity  is  a  psychological  contradiction  impossible  of  recon- 
ciliation from  the  human  point  of  view. 

DOUBLE    PERSONALITY. 

Douljle  personality,  or  double  consciousness,  is  interest- 
ing in  modern  psycholog}\  The  following  marked  ex- 
ample, for  which  we  have  the  authority  of  M.  Tissie,  is  a 


62  The  Criminal  Classes 

case  in  point :  Albert  D.,  aged  thirty,  is  neuropatliie  by 
heredity.  His  fatlier  died  of  softening  of  the  brain,  he 
has  lost  a  brother  through  meningitis  at  thirty  years  of 
age,  and  another  of  his  brothers  is  hypochondriacal  at  the 
age  of  eight,  in  consequence  of  a  fall.  Albert  began  to  suf- 
fer from  violent  migraine,  accompanied  by  sickness.  The 
characteristic  of  this  morbid  state  is  the  impulse  to  walk. 
He  walks  at  random,  is  able  to  direct  himself,  accomplish- 
ing as  much  as  seventy  kilometers  a  day,  and  sometimes 
more. 

This  is  what  happens :  Albert  dreams  in  the  night  that 
he  is  to  go  to  a  certain  town,  and  in  the  morning,  having 
awakened,  or  appearing  to  be  awake,  he  continues  his 
dream  and  departs,  abandoning  his  family  and  his  con- 
cerns. He  generally  sees  in  his  dream  some  one  whom  he 
knows,  who  invites  him  to  follow  him  to  a  town  where  he 
will  find  work,  for  he  is  hard-working,  and  it  is  his  con- 
stant anxiety  to  ameliorate  his  situation,  and  that  of  his 
wife,  whom  his  repeated  escapades  have  reduced  to  misery. 
After  having,  in  his  second  state,  searched  the  place  where 
his  wife  hides  her  little  savings,  he  departs,  but  he  does 
not  know  what  resources  he  has  upon  him,  and  will  allow 
himself  to  be  robbed. 

He  has  been  arrested  a  numlier  of  times  as  a  vagal)ond. 
Albert  is  acquainted  with  all  the  prisons  of  Europe,  and 
many  of  the  hospitals.  I'o  sum  up,  he  represents  two 
states,  two  personalities,  one  in  which  he  is  awake,  like 
every  one  else,  and  the  other  in  which  he  is  on  his  wander- 
ings. 

Hallman,  although  almost  a  perfect  jihysical  sjiecimon, 
manifested  certain  neuropathic  symptoms,  which  my  exam- 
ination of  his  brain  clearly  substantiates.  He  certainly 
inherited  some  nervous  taint,  which  perhaps  made  it  im- 
possible   1o    iiiliibit    his    violent    nut))r('aks    of    passion. 


Causes  and  Cures  63 

Strangel}'  enough,  his  passionate  outbursts  were  recurrent 
and  not  always  manifest.  He  would  perhaps  have  to  be 
regarded  as  belonging  to  the  same  group  as  the  following, 
though,  of  course,  his  symptoms  of  double  selfhood  were 
by  no  means  so  completely  marked  or  so  carefully  noticed, 
because  of  the  obscurity  in  which  his  life  had  been  spent. 

In  1880,  aged  seventeen,  a  patient  enters  the  asylum  of 
Bonneval.  He  is  hysterical  by  heredity.  One  day,  while 
working  in  the  fields,  he  is  seized  by  a  sudden  fright  at 
the  sight  of  a  viper,  and  has  a  violent  attack  of  hysteria. 
On  his  return  to  consciousness,  he  is  quite  a  different  per- 
son. His  character  changes  completely.  From  l^eing  quar- 
relsome and  a  thief  he  has  become  a  gentle,  honest,  and 
obliging  individual.  He  is  in  the  second  state.  Moreover, 
he  has  completely  lost  all  remembrance  of  the  past,  and 
fancies  he  is  still  at  St.  Urbain,  a  penitentiary  settlement, 
from  which  he  had  been  sent  to  Bonneval.  He  recognizes 
nothing  that  he  sees  about  him.  Xot  only  has  he  forgotten 
all  that  he  has  seen  and  all  that  has  happened,  but  he  can 
no  longer  exercise  the  trade  of  tailoring  that  he  knew  be- 
fore his  attack.  This  state  lasts  a  year,  at  the  end  of  which, 
after  a  violent  attack  of  hysteria,  he  becomes  again  what 
he  was  formerly,  vicious,  a  thief,  arrogant,  and  quarrel- 
some. He  ends  at  last  by  escaping  from  the  asylum.  When 
he  is  brought  back,  he  presents  a  similar  phase.  He  has 
been  studied  a  long  time  at  Bicetre  by  M.  Jules  Voisin. 
At  last  he  escaped  during  a  period  of  his  normal  condition, 
liater,  we  find  him  at  Eochefort  as  foot  soldier  in  the 
marines,  and  he  has  served  for  a  subject  to  ^I.  Bourn  and 
M.  Butot  for  interesting  experiments. 

Ijike  every  hereditary  or  inborn  criminal,  Hallman  was 
incapable  of  prolonged  mental  exertion.  He  manifested, 
also,  the  emotional  instability  so  typical  of  the  habitual 
criminal.     This,  in  a  measure,  accounts  for  the  otherwise 


64  The  Criminal  Classes 

inconceivable  fact  that  religion  and  crime  can  be  so  closely 
related.  iSiote  with  what  ardor  the  most  hardened  crim- 
inals will  engage  in  the  religious  services  of  the  prisons 
in  which  they  are  incarcerated.  Often  at  such  times  will 
they  punctuate  their  fervid  religious  outbursts  with  violent 
sobs.  To  them,  as  it  seems  to  us,  religion  is  nothing  more 
or  less  than  an  emotional  intoxication — an  orgy,  made  up 
of  sentimental  gush,  rather  than  an  experience  that  has  for 
its  seat  the  deepest  recesses  of  the  human  heart,  lighted  up 
by  the  torch  of  reason  and  the  gleams  of  a  satisfied  intel- 
lectual repose. 

HALLMAN^   ANALYZED. 

Does  Frederick  Ilallman,  in  his  religious  protestations, 
belong  to  the  same  class  of  individuals  or  not?  This  is 
the  question  that  is  pressing  for  solution  and  answer  in 
the  minds  of  every  one  at  all  interested  in  his  actions,  both 
recent  and  more  remote.  As  to  the  scientific  examination  of 
his  brain  and  skull^  the  following  facts  are  clearly  estab- 
lished :  First,  as  to  skull.  Certain  abnormalities  are  plainly 
presented,  both  as  to  shape  and  structure.  Its  size  is  nor- 
mal, being  neither  above  nor  below  that  of  the  average  man. 
With  reference  to  shape,  the  most  significant  fact  is  this: 
In  the  normal  skull  the  angle  made  by  drawing  a  line  from 
the  middle  point  of  the  forehead  to  the  tip  of  the  nose  and 
then  to  the  point  of  the  chin  is  never  less  than  one  hundred 
and  thirty-five  degrees.  In  the  case  of  Hallman,  the  angle 
made  by  similar  lines  is  ninety-one  degrees,  almost  a  per- 
fect right  angle. 

The  bony  skull  cap  itself  is  unusually  irregular  in  thick- 
ness— something  like  what  is  found  in  the  case  of  some  of 
the  insane.  The  brain  is  about  normal  in  size,  in  weight 
exactly  fifty-two  ounces.  It  is  more  resistant  to  the  loiife 
than  the  normal  l)rain.    The  confisruration  of  the  surface  is 


Causes  and  Cures  65 

also  different  from  that  found  in  tlie  brain  of  the  non- 
criminal. Certain  of  the  fissures  are  crossed  and  twisted 
in  their  tortuous  course,  rather  than  clearly  defined  and 
unbranching,  as  in  the  normal  brain.  In  this  respect,  the 
brain  of  Hallman  resembles  that  of  some  of  the  more  noted 
criminals,  such  as  Mcllvaine,  executed  by  electricity  at 
Sing  Sing,  Xew  York. 

In  certain  localities  of  the  brain  surface  the  gray  rind, 
or  cortex,  is  thinner  than  normal.  The  brain  cells  them- 
selves also  exhibit  some  abnormal  characteristics.  The 
brain  has  been  carefully  hardened,  and  is  well  preserved, 
so  that  very  soon  the  actions  can  be  made  for  close  micro- 
scopic study.  What  results  such  examination  will  reveal 
are  looked  forward  to  with  no  small  degree  of  interest,  for 
it  is  the  brain  of  one  of  the  greatest  degenerates  that  has 
ever  lived  among  men;  the  brain  of  an  individual  who 
stands  as  a  monster  outside  the  pale  of  civilization,  though 
he  has  lived  in  the  most  enlightened  age  the  world  has  ever 
known,  with  its  educational  facts  and  forces  so  potent  in 
effecting  the  moral  uplifting,  as  well  as  the  mental  im- 
provement of  mankind. 


6Q 


The  Criininal  Classes 


XVII. 
A  Monstrosity. 

Oliio  Cow  Fiend — Cuts  Pieces  Out  of  Living  Cows. 


JUD    HOLLAND. 

Who  is  this?  It  is  not  Jack  the  Kipper,  who,  for  many 
months,  kept  England's  people  in  fearful  commotion;  but 
it  is  the  facial  expression  of  the  "Ohio  cow  fiend,"  a  negro 
who,  for  quite  a  while,  greatly  disturbed  the  people  living 
in  and  around  Columbus,  Ohio,  by  assaulting,  mutilating, 
and  cutting  into  pieces  a  number  of  living  cows.  After  re- 
peated efforts,  this  crafty  villain  was  detected,  while  car- 
rying a  piece  of  fiesh  which  he  had  cut  from  his  last 
subject.  He  was  arrested,  tried,  and  convicted  of  this  singu- 


Causes  and  Cures  67 

lar   crime,   and   sentenced  to   the    Ohio   Penitentiary   for 
fourteen  years. 

A  study  of  this  face  leads  only  to  the  conclusion  that 
he  is  a  monstrous  villain.    Surely  some 

■'III  stars!  at  his  base  birth  were  in  conjunction 
And  tainted  all  the  current  of  his  life." 


68  The  Criminal  Classes 


XVIll. 

A  STra'GGLE  TO  Forgive  a  Foe. 

A  Sick  Man  Told  He  Must  Die — He  Gives  Messages  for  His 
Family — Harbors  lllwill  to  a  Xeighbor — Stops  in  the  Midst 
of  His  Prayer — Cannot  Say,  "Forgive  as  I  Forgive"' — Over- 
comes— Reconciled — His  Death. 

One  morning  my  attention  was  particularly  called  to  a 
large  and  robust-looking  man  who,  but  a  few  days  previous, 
was  received  from  Paulding  County.  The  physician  re- 
ported him  seriously  ill,  and  liable  to  die  within  a  few 
hours,  but  certainly  within  a  very  short  time.  I  informed 
him  of  his  impending  fate,  and  advised  him  to  make  all 
necessary  preparations  at  once. 

He  gave  me  some  messages  for  his  family,  and  then 
said :  "I  once  had  peace  with  God  and  fellowship  witli 
his  people.  Through  certain  influences,  I  was  led  astray, 
and  committed  a  criminal  offense,  for  which  I  served  one 
term  in  this  prison.  On  my  release,  I  returned  to  my  fam- 
ily with  a  resolution  to  live  an  honest  life.  I  kept  my 
vow;  but,  because  of  my  previous  record,  there  was  a  mani- 
fest p]-ejudice  against  me,  and  an  inclination  to  charge 
me  with  all  criminal  acts  coimnitted  in  the  community. 
One  night  a  crime  was  committed  with  which  I  was 
charged,  and  for  which  I  was  arrested,  tried,  and  con- 
victed. One  whom  I  have  good  reason  to  believe  com- 
mitted that  crime  w-as  an  active  and  principal  witness 
against  me.*' 

He  then  expressed  a  desire  for  pardon  of  sin  and  fitness 
for  the  life  beyond,  but  entertained  fears  of  inability,  with 
his  present  state  of  mind,  to  conform  to  all  the  conditions. 


Causes  and  Cures  69 

I  suggested  a  prayer,  and  proposed  that  he  join  with  me  in 
repeating  the  Lord's  Prayer,  to  which  he  gave  consent. 
We  began,  and  he  uttered,  in  a  clear  tone,  every  word  until 
we  reached  the  words,  "Forgive  us  our  trespasses,  as  we 
forgive  those  who  trespass  against  us."  He  suddenly 
stopped  and  said,  "Chaplain,  I  cannot  say  that,  for  I  can- 
not now  forgive  the  man  who  bore  false  witness  against 
me,  and  thereby  caused  me  to  come  to  this  prison." 

I  replied,  "This  difficulty  now  in  your  way  must  be  over- 
come before  we  can  go  further  toward  pardon."  I  urged 
that  he  refer  this  matter  to  God  and  leave  his  foe  in  his 
hands.  We  again  started  to  repeat  the  prayer,  but  again 
he  stopped  at  the  same  point,  and  said,  "This  with  me  is 
asking  for  forgiveness  as  I  forgive,  which  is  not  at  all." 

I  left  him  at  this  point,  saying,  "Until  you  can  pray 
this  part  of  the  prayer,  it  is  folly  to  go  further." 

On  my  return,  in  the  afternoon,  I  urged  him  to  make 
another  honest  effort.  We  again  repeated  the  prayer  to- 
gether until  we  reached  the  sentence,  "Forgive  us,"  etc., 
when  he  again  paused,  saying,  "As  an  honest  man,  I  can- 
not say  that."    He  continued  to  grow  worse. 

Before  leaving  the  prison  in  the  evening,  I  called,  and 
tried  again  to  lead  him  in  the  repetition  of  the  entire 
prayer,  but  met  with  results  as  before.  The  following 
daj^,  several  attempts  were  made  to  have  him  complete  this 
prayer,  but  each  failed  because  of  his  silence  at  the  one 
point.  This  was  his  last  day  of  life  on  earth.  The  fol- 
lowing morning,  as  I  entered  the  prison,  a  messenger  in- 
formed me  that  I  was  wanted  immediately  at  the  hospital. 
On  reaching  it,  the  officer  in  charge  said,  "Mr.  M.  has  been 
calling  for  you  since  midnight ;  he  has  been  earnestly  pray- 
ing." I  approached  him,  and  he  reached  forth  his  hand, 
already  cold,  and,  with  a  smile,  said,  "Chaplain,  I  can  now 
pray  all  of  that  prayer.     At  three  o'clock  this  morning,  I 


70  The  Crirninal  Classes 

obtained  the  victory  by  leaving  all  with  the  Judge  of  all 
men,  when  I  received  for  myself  a  complete  pardon." 

The  change  in  him  was  noticeal)lo,  and  was  clearly  recog- 
nized by  quite  a  number  within  the  hospital.  He  lingered 
for  about  one  hour  after  I  reached  his  bed,  and  then  calmly 
fell  into  the  embrace  of  death. 


Causes  and  Cures  71 


XIX. 

"Can  God  Save  a  Poor  Sinner  Like  Me?" 

Horace  Brooks — Twenty-eight  Years  in  Prison — He  Becomes 
Penitent — Is  Baptized — Expresses  Hope — Laments  tlie  In- 
difference of  Friends — D.  L.  Moody's  Illustration. 

One  morniug,  when  in  the  prison  hospital  visiting  the 
sick  and  infirm,  as  I  was  passing  through  one  of  the  wards, 
a  feeble  voice  called  to  me.  As  I  turned  to  respond,  tliere 
stood,  leaning  upon  the  railing  of  a  stairway,  an  old  man, 
whom  1  recognized  as  Horace  Brooks,  who  was  serving  a 
life  sentence  for  derailing  a  train  of  cars  on  the  Lake 
Shore  Eailway,  by  which  the  engineer  lost  his  life.  He 
had  then  served  about  twenty-eight  years,  and  was  a  great 
sufEerer  from  a  cancer  in  liis  face.  As  I  approaclied  him, 
he  said,  "Cliaplain,  can  God  save  a  poor  sinner  like  me?" 
I  saw  at  once  that  he  was  sincere  and  greatly  exercised 
about  his  future  life,  and  answered  his  important  inquiry 
with  appropriate  quotations  from  the  Word  of  God.  I 
offered  a  prayer  in  his  behalf,  and  promised  to  see  him 
again  soon.  On  my  return  to  the  otiice,  I  sent  him,  marked, 
some  appropriate  reading-matter. 

When  I  again  called,  he  said:  "I  have  read  what  you 
sent  me.  I  conclude  that  this  with  me  is  'the  eleventh 
hour.'  I  find  that  Jesus  gave  assurance  of  acceptance  and 
pardon,  even  at  'tiie  eleventh  hour/  but  do  you  think  this 
assurance  is  for  an  old  hardened  wretch  like  me?" 

"Yes,"  I  said;  "Christ  came  to  seek  and  to  save  that 
which  was  lost,  even  'the  chief  of  sinners.'  " 

He  replied :  "I  was  reared  by  Christian  parents,  and 
taudit  that  Christ  came  to  this  world  to  save  all  who  be- 


'(2  lite  Criminal  Classes 

lieve  on  him,  but  I  am  such  a  great  siuuor  that  I  fear  1 
am  forsaken  of  God  and  man.  May  1  yet  believe  and  be 
saved  ?" 

Answering  him  in  the  aHirmative,  I  referred  him  to  some 
special  recorded  word  of  inspiration,  and  gave  him  some 
appropriate  tracts,  offered  a  prayer  for  him,  and  assured 
him  01  an  early  return. 

When  I  again  met  him,  ho  was  quite  calm  and  wore  an 
expression  of  satisfaction.  As  I  approached  him,  he  said: 
"I  am  now  satisfied  that  Jesus  saves  a  wretch  like  me.  I 
now  believe  on  him  and  realize  that  he  saves  me,  even  me." 
He  then  requested  baptism  when  convenient,  and  this  re- 
quest was  subsequently  granted. 

From  that  time  to  the  date  of  his  death,  which  occurred 
several  months  later,  he  seemed  reconciled  and  cheer- 
ful. When  quite  reduced,  and  compelled  to  take  to  his 
bed,  on  one  occasion,  as  I  approached  him,  he  reached  out 
his  hand,  saying,  "1  am  resting  easy  to-day."  I  asked, 
"What  is  the  burden  of  your  thoughts  to-day?"  He  replied, 
"I  am.  wondering  why  my  friends  leave  me  alone;  they 
do  not  write  me."  Then,  with  upturned  eyes  and  index 
finger  lifted,  he  faintly  said,  "One  Friend  sticks  to  me." 

As  an  illustration  of  his  suliject,  the  evangelist  D.  L. 
bloody,  when  preaching  from  the  text,  "Whatsoever  a  man 
sowetli,  that  shall  he  also  reap,"  most  generally  referred  to 
this  man,  his  crime,  and  his  punishment. 


Causes  and  Cures  73 


XX. 

Jealousy. 

Mrs  Ellen  A.  Athey — A  Life  Prisoner — Some  Commendable 
Traits — Her  Jealousy — Took  the  Life  of  Guest — Confessed  Her 
Guilt. 


MES.    ELLEN   ATHEY, 

Who,  in  1880,  murdered  Miss  ]\Iary  E.  Seneff,  of  Tusca- 
rawas County,  Ohio,  and  for  which  she  was  committed  to 
the  Ohio  Penitentiary  for  life.  While  her  trial  in  the 
court  was  in  progress,  and  immediately  after  the  prosecu- 
tion had  rested,  she,  with  her  babe  in  her  arms,  went  upon 
the  witness-stand  and  made  a  full  confession  of  her  guilty 
claiming  that  the  murder  was  the  result  of  a  quarrel  be- 
tween her  and  3.1iss  Seneff,  and  not  a  premeditated  act. 

Evidentl}^  Mrs.  Athey  was  endowed  with  some  commend- 
able qualities.  She  could  manifest  kindness  and  affec- 
tion, she  was  industrious,  a  good  housekeeper,  and  evi- 


74  The  Criminal  Classes 

denced  quite  an  interest  in  her  family.  She  possessed 
more  than  the  average  intelligence.  But  to  her  a  settled 
purpose,  a  steady,  judicious  course,  and  a  well-disciplined 
will,  were  strangers.  She  was  stubborn,  self-willed,  and 
soon  angry.  To  her,  revenge  for  a  real  or  imaginary  wrong 
seemed  in  order ;  but  more,  that  worst  of  human  foes,  that 
green-eyed  peace  destroyer,  jealousy,  for  which  there  sc^ms 
no  cure  but  death,  continually  kept  kindled  in  her  breast 

"That  fire  of  endless  night, 
Which  ever  burns,  but  gives  no  light." 

With  her  it  might  have  l)een  different,  would  have  been 
different,  had  she  known  herself  better  and  governed  her 
passions  with  a  steady  will. 


Causes  and  Cures  75 


XXI. 

A  Poetical  EriTAPii. 

Description  of  Outgoing  Chaplain — Ranting  in  Pulpit — A  Brim- 
stone Smell — Notice  to  Incoming  Chaplain — Will  Not  Be 
Coerced. 

On  assuming  the  duties  of  chaplain,  the  first  written 
communication  which  reached  me  was  evidently  from  a 
prisoner  whose  estimate  of  the  retiring  chaplain  was  at  a 
discount,  and  whose  suggestions  might,  with  propriety,  be 
heeded  even  by  those  outside  of  prison  walls.  It  was,  in 
part,  as  follows : 

Beneath  this  slab,  as  fortune  turns. 
Rest  the  remains  of  Chaplain  Burns. 

Maybe  he  was  of  God's  elect. 
But  still  he  had  one  bad  defect. 

One  fault  our  worthy  chaplain  had — 
He  always  preached  as  if  he  were  mad. 
In  haste  he  'd  vent  his  smothered  gall, 
And  many  a  vulgar  word  let  fall. 
With  broadcast  sweep  he  flung  his  ire, 
With  him  't  was  naught  but  smoke  and  fire. 
Which  gave  our  church,  from  base  to  bell, 
A  most  offensive  brimstone  smell. 

Whoe'er  may  be  this  man's  successor. 
Let  him  be  doctor  or  professor. 
Oh,  do  for  Heaven's  sake  forbear ; 
Do  not  get  mad.  and  rant,  and  rear. 
You  never  can  convert  a  villain 
By  forcing  him  when  he  's  unwilling; 
You  couldn't  me,  I  '11  bet  a  shilling. 

—Cole. 


76  The  Criminal  Classes 


XXII. 

A  Wise  Coxclusiox. 

A  Letter  to  the  Chaplaiu — Wdnts  to  Change  His  Reading-Course — 
Books  as  Aids  to  Bible  Study — Would  Kuow  How  to  Resist 
Temptation. 

Chaplain. 

Deak  SiK  :  Since  we  have  fairly  launched  our  barque  upon  the 
waves  of  another  year,  I  have  come  to  the  conclusion  to  trouble 
you  for  your  assistance  at  the  helm.  I  desire  to  change  my  course 
of  reading-matter,  and  1  wish  such  books  as  are  edifying  and  draw 
man  in  closer  communion  with  his  Maker.  I  find  a  Christian 
soul  must  be  fed  to  increase  strength  to  do  battle  with  tenipiation. 
Like  the  body,  it  must  receive  food,  or  perish.  I  am  fully  aware 
the  food  consists  of  the  Word  of  (Jod ;  but  how  much  better  under- 
stood, and  how  delightful  it  is  to  have  the  directions  and  points  of 
writers  who  are  able  to  comprehend  the  whole.  Now,  I  wish  you 
would  favor  me  with  the  choice  of  i/oitr  books  for  the  next'  six 
months.  You  can  judge  how  long  a  book  will  last  me  and  see  what 
progress  I  will  make  in  that  time. 

y[y  greatest  desire  is  to  be  a  Christian,  and  I  wisli  to  lay  the 
foundation  within  these  walls,  so  that  when  I  am  called  to  go 
forth  to  meet  trials  and  temptation.s  I  may  know  how  to  resist.  I 
have  yet  two  years  to  serve  in  this  prison,  and  I  can  learn  much 
in  that  time,  if  I  have  the  right  guiding.  As  you  have  read  many 
works,  you  will  be  able  to  direct  me.  Yours. 


Causes  and  Cures  77 


XXIII. 

The  Prisoner's  Eequest. 

A  Response  to  a  Mother's  Call  for  Her  Boy — Weary  of  Roaming- 
Memory's  Refrain — A  Favorite  Among  Criminals. 

TAKE    ME   BACK   TO   HOME   AND   MOTHER. 

Take  me  back  to  home  and  mother, 

I  am  weary  wandering  here ; 
There  can  never  be  another  spot 

On  earth  that  is  so  dear. 
Tho'  I  roam  'mid  scenes  of  splendor, 

Yet  my  heart  is  filled  with  pain. 
And  a  longing  soft  and  tender 

Whispers,  "Take  me  home  again." 

Chorus. 

Take  me  back  to  home  and  mother, 
For  my  heart  is  filled  with  pain. 

Take  me  back  to  home  and  mother, 
Only  take  me  back  again. 

Take  me  back  to  home  and  mother. 

To  the  happy  scenes  of  yore ; 
Friends  of  childhood,  sister,  brother, 

Long  to  welcome  me  once  more  ; 
I  can  hear  their  voices  ringing. 

In  sweet  memory's  refrain — 
To  the  past  mj  heart  is  clinging. 

Only  take  me  back  again. 

Take  me  back  to  home  and  mother, 

Gentle  words  will  greet  me  there. 
For  on  earth  there  is  no  other 

Kindness  like  a  mother's  care. 
Life  is  but  a  dream  of  pleasure, 

Sweetest  hours  must  turn  to  pain. 
Home  is  all  I  have  to  treasure. 

Only  take  me  back  again. 


78  The  Criminal  Classes 


XXIY. 

ABOLisH:\rENT  OF  Six. 

(A  letter  to  the  Chaplain.) 

What  This  World  Would  Be  Like  Were  Sin  Abolished — An  Island 
Imagined — Sacred  Pictures  on  the  Walls — Sin  Debarred. 

To  the  Chaplain. 

Let  us  imagine  a  country  afar  off. — some  island  of  the  ocean, — 
whore  sin  has  never  been  known.  There  we  would  find  the  people 
intelligent,  virtuous,  temperate,  and  happy.  We  would  find  them 
enjoying  a  fruitful  land,  a  healthy  clime,  a  free  government  with 
wholesome  laws.  We  would  see  written  on  every  man's  coun- 
tenance faith,  hope,  and  charity ;  their  homes  would  be  scenes  of 
domestic  happiness.  .  .  .  We  might  canvass  that  island  from 
center  to  circumference,  and  not  be  able  to  find  a  hrewery  or  dis- 
tillery; not  one  court  of  justice,  not  one  jail,  penitentiary,  insane 
asy'um,  or  any  other  emblem  of  sin  ;  nor  would  we  see  a  monster 
palace  of  sin  that  stands  with  open  doors  and  frosted  windows, 
with  red,  white,  and  blue  lamps  in  front  as  lights  from  the  other 
world  hurrying  its  trembling  victims  on  to  destruction ;  but  we 
would  see  magnificent  churches  and  temples  of  worship  erected  in 
their  stead,  and  the  spires  would  be  so  lofty  that  they  would  pierce 
the  very  clouds  above  them,  and  their  silver  balls  would  glisten 
and  shine  with  such  splendor  that  they  could  be  seen  for  miles,  and 
the  interior  of  those  churches  would  be  lighted  by  rows  of  golden 
chandeliens,  and  their  chains  of  precious  jewels  would  sparkle  like 
millions  of  dewdrops  under  a  morning  sunbeam  :  their  altars  would 
be  frescoed  with  jasper,  precious  stones,  and  glittering  diamonds. 
We  would  see  hanging  from  their  walls  beautiful  and  costly  paint- 
ings of  Christ's  Resurrection  and  Ai;cension,  Mary  at  the  Savior's 
Tomb,  Christ's  Last  Supper  with  His  Disciples,  and  many,  many 
other  emblems.  .  .  .  Then,  were  we  to  go  to  the  wise  men  of 
this  island,  and  tell  them  that  we  were  advocates  of  sin,  and 
wished  to  introduce  it  among  them,  with  all  its  penalties,  do  you 
suppose  that  they  would  admit  the  destroyer?  Would  they  not 
guard  their  shores  against  it,  as  they  would  against  some  pesti- 
lence? Would  not  the  alarm  be  sounded  throughout  the  island, 
and  armies  be  raised  to  prevent  its  admission?  I  am  sure  there 
can  be  but  one  answer.  C.  V.  Adams. 


Causes  and  Cures  79 


XXV. 

A  Model  Letter  from  a  Husband  to  a  Wife. 

The  Prison  Compared  to  an  Island — One  Sex  Only — The  Larder — 
The  House — No  Luxuries — No  Roast  Pig  from  a  Cluster  of 
Sweet-Smelling  Underbrush — Everybody  Works — No  Private 
Property — Correspondence. 

The  following,  with  a  few  erasures,  is  a  true  copy  of 
the  first  letter  of  its  author  to  his  wife  after  his  arrival  in 
prison.  In  it  are  unmistakable  marks  of  culture  and 
superior  ability  in  letter-writing,  and  evidences  that  the 
author  was  indeed  quite  a  philosopher,  capable  of  reason- 
ing out  the  best  from  what  seemed  the  worst  possible  situa- 
tion. During  his  incarceration,  quite  a  number  of  letters, 
much  after  the  style  of  the  first,  were  written  by  him. 
While  to  him  the  shame  and  imprisonment  seemed  almost 
unbearable,  at  no  time  did  his  anguish  appear  in  his  letters : 

My  own  darling  Wtfe  :  You  doubtless  remember  Mallock's 
"Positivism  on  an  Island,"  a  sort  of  new  "Paul  and  Virginia,"  with 
philosophy  added  to  sentiment.  I  have  journeyed  to  a  land  in  some 
respects  similar  to  that  island.  There  is  neither  so  much  sentiment, 
nor  is  there  so  much  philosophy  here  as  there  appears  to  have  he^n 
there,  nor  is  there  such  a  proportionate  distribution  of  sex.  If  I 
remember  correctly,  in  that  island  of  the  mind  dwelt  two  men  and 
one  woman.  Here  there  dwells  but  one  sex.  The  nearest  approach 
to  a  woman  that  is  to  be  seen  in  this  detached  land  is  the  half- 
nude  marble  figure  "Amphelse"  (a  classic  importation?)  that  adorns 
the  lawn  in  front  of  the  chapel.  I  am  informed  that  nearby  there 
lies  an  island  similar  to  this  one  in  all  respects,  except  as  to  the 
sex  of  the  inhabitants.  I  have  not  yet  journeyed  thither,  and  prob- 
ably shall  not. 

While  we  are  like  the  shipwrecked  positivists  in  many  respects, 
we  are  unlike  them  in  many  more.  Our  communication  with  all 
the  outside  world  is  as  absolutely  cut  off  as  was  theirs :  our  house 
was  already  built,  like   theirs ;   all  provisions  for  our  abode  were 


80  The  Criminal  Classes 

made  prior  to  our  arrival,  like  theirs.  While  our  bouse  is  as  dur- 
able and  as  warm  as  \va«  the  one  on  the  island,  it  is  neither  so 
convenient  nor  sumptuously  furnished :  the  larder  here  is  not 
stocked  with  such  a  variety  of  the  luxuries  and  delicacies  of  life 
as  was  that  imaginary  one — as  a  matter  of  fact,  very  few  are ; 
here  no  roast-pig  runs  out  of  a  cluster  of  sweet-smelling  under- 
brush and  asks  to  be  eaten,  as  is  said  to  have  been  the  case  there. 
We  have  an  abundance  of  "pig,"  but  we  have  to  cook  it  ourselves ; 
that  is,  those  of  us  who  are  detailed  for  that  purpose.  There  bird;s 
and  blossoms  pleased  the  eye  and  gratified  the  senses;  here  I  have 
not  seen  a  single  tlower,  and  not  a  song-note  of  bird  or  man  has 
reached  my  ear  since  my  arrival. 

The  philosophy  of  this  new  land  is  decidedly  utilitarian.  Things 
are  important  and  allowed  only  as  they  are  useful.  The  aesthetic 
taste  is  sadly  neglected  in  the  individual.  Here  mankind  is  re- 
garded as  having  but  two  missions  in  life,  the  one  to  work,  and 
the  other  to  sleep.  Consequently,  the  day  is  divided  as  nearly  as 
may  be  into  two  equal  part8,  the  one  moiety  is  spent  in  working  at 
some  useful  employment,  the  other  in  sleep. 

Everybody  works  here,  works  regularly,  works  continuously. 
There  are  almost  all  kinds  of  workmen,  except  farmere.  There  is 
no  H.SC  for  a  farmer  in  this  strange  land,  but  there  are  to  be  found 
all  classes  of  mechanics  and  artisans. 

Being  neither  a  mechanic  nor  an  artisan,  and  being  farmer-bred. 
you  are  no  doubt  anxious  to  know  what  I  do  in  this  new  world  of 
labor.  I  will  tell  you.  I  am  transfer  clerk  and  bookkeeper. 
My  duties  are  to  register  all  new  arrivals,  (our  commuiity. 
like  the  Shakers,  is  kept  up  by  "proselyting"  from  the  outside 
world,)  note  all  "departures"  or  "desertions";  to  provide  "rooms" 
for  the  new  "converts"  :  transfer  his  private  property,  never  very 
much,  from  one  room  to  another  when  any  change  is  made  in  the 
work  of  the  individual ;  to  close  u))  the  room  and  take  off  the  tab 
when  an  individual  forsakes  this  little  laud  and  goes  back  to  the 
world,  to  the  insane  asylum,  or  to  death ;  to  notify  the  various 
heads  of  departments  when  individuals  are  transferred  to  or  from 
their  care. 

I  know  that  yon  are  anxious  to  hear  respecting  my  "apartments." 
and  I  will  here  give  you  full  details.  It  is  hardly  the  exact  thing 
to  put  in  the  ])lural  that  which  is  but  single.  My  room  is  a  corner 
room  on  the  first  floor  in  a  brown-stone  front,  and  on  the  prin- 
cipal thoroughfare.  It  is  four  feet  and  nine  inches  wide,  seven  feet 
and  ten  inches  long,  and  between  seven  feet  and  seven  inches,  and 
eight  feet  .ind  six  inches  in  height;  the  ceiling  is  cvlindri'-'il.  with 
half  the  cylinder  carried  away  and  the  concave  side  placed  down- 
wards. It  is  furnished  with  a  bed,  bedstead,  straw-tick,  and  all  the 
necessary  paraphernalia  pertaining  to  a  bed.  There  are  none  of 
the  non-essentials,  such  as  pillow-shams,  bed-spreads,  and  the  like. 


Causes  and  Cures  81 

Then,  I  have  a  book-ratk,  and  a  chair  with  three  legs  aod  uo  back. 
A  gas-jet  at  the  head  of  the  bed  furnishes  au  abundance  of  light, 
not  a  superabundance,  like  our  Argand.  when  the  >iun  fails  in  that 
important  function.  Then  1  have  a  water-pitcher  and  a  bucket, 
the  necessaries  (rather  the  indispensables)  of  a  bed-room  set. 
Goldsmith  says  : 

"Man  wants  but  little  here  below, 
Nor  wants  that  little  long." 

Applied  to  this  new  world,  the  couplet  of  the  impecunious  poet  is 
as  true  as  when  applied  to  the  one  with  which  you  are  so  familiar, 
my  darling.  Yes,  far  truer.  Few,  I  venture,  dwell  here  who  would 
not  willingly  abandon  this  utilitarian  realm  for  the  one  they 
formerly  knew,  for  the  friends  and  the  freedom  they  loved  and 
enjoyed,  so  that  what  little  v.-e  want  here  is  not  ivanted  long.  Yet 
the  terms  of  the  "probation"  of  many  are  such  that  they  are  not 
permitted  to  go  back  to  the  world  for  many  long,  weary  years,  for 
the  land  where  we  dwell  is  very  similar  to  the  valley  described  by 
Surly  Sam  in  his  "Rasselas,"  in  one  respect  at  least.  That  valley, 
if  I  am  not  mistaken  in  my  remembrance  of  childhood's  reading, 
wa.s  completely  walled  in  on  all  side.s  by  rugged  mountains  tiuit 
barred  all  egress.  Here  we  are  "cramped,  cribbed,  confined"  to  a 
small  spot  of  earth,  within  equally  inhospitable  walls. 

Were  I  in  such  a  land  as  the  island  home  of  the  positivists,  or 
even  in  a  laud  as  extremely  utilitarian  as  this  one,  with  you.  dar- 
ling, if  you  were  contented  and  happy,  I  shotild  be  supremely  so  ;  but 
I  know  you  too  well,  your  disposition,  your  refinement,  your  tastes, 
your  yearnings,  your  desires,  to  suppose  such  a  thing  as  your  hap- 
piness under  such  circumstances  and  with  such  surroundings,  yet 
I  feel  sure,  love,  that  even  here,  with  me,  you  could  not  be  any 
more  thoroughly  miserable  than  you  are  at  home,  in  the  midst  of 
kind  and  sympathizing  friends,  without  me.  It  is  indeed  a  cruel 
blow,  and  unmerited,  but  it  must  be  endured.  I  have  set  my  mind, 
arranged  my  feelings,  to  dwell  here  the  allotted  time. 

Respecting  my  place  and  my  work  here,  I  have  only  to  say  that 
had  I  been  fully  acquainted  with  this  laud  of  seclusion  before  visit- 
ing its  shores,  and  had  I  been  granted  the  privilege  of  selecting  the 
place  most  to  my  liking,  I  could  not  have  hit  upon  one  more  en- 
tirely agreeable  to  me  and  adapted  to  my  abilities — whatever  they 
may  be      T  never  was  afraid  of  work,  as  you  know. 

This  is  truly  a  "new  life"  to  me,  but  not  the  new  life  the  Good 
Book  tells  us  about,  and  not  the  new  life  we  all  desire.  Y'et,  it 
furnishes  me  food  for  thought  and  characters  for  study.  I  shall  be 
able  to  complete  our  new  no\'el,  "Henry  Hurley,"  when  I  come 
home,  and  give  the  finishing  touch  to  such  villains  as  Mose  Brau, 
Teddy  Tulli\an,  and  Will  Huff  with  an  exactness  not  otherwise 
possible.     Every  condition  and  position  in  life  has  its  advantages 


82  2'he  Criminal  Classes 


and  disadvantages.  I  hope  to  be  able  to  make  this,  our  great  trouble, 
yield  fruit  that  shall  contribute  to  our  everlasting  happiness. 
Rideing  ti-uly  says  that  life  is  like  a  prism  in  the  changing  aspects 
which  it  has  from  different  positions  of  sight,  if  not  in  the  cer- 
tainty of  resultant  beauty.  Tliis  is  certainly  a  standpoint  that  a 
person  does  not  desire  or  care  to  look  from  more  than  once  in  a 
lifetime. 

You  cannot  see  me  in  my  new  home, — in  my  "apartments," — but 
you  can  see  me  in  the  office.  Ask  to  see  me  at  the  chaplain's  office ; 
that  is  the  best  place.    You  can  see  me  once  in  thirty  days. 

I  cannot  write  often.  The  rule  is  that  only  short  letters  are  to  be 
written,  but  the  chaplain  has  kindly  consented  to  look  over  one 
longer  than  usual  for  me.  I  will  write  as  often  as  I  am  allowed, 
and  always  to  you. 

May  loving  angels  kindly  guard  thy  pillow.  M. 


Causes  and  Cures  83 


XXVI. 

A  Mother's  Love. 

Or  ail  poems  ever  written,  tiiere  is  no  otlier  wliicli,  with 
tlie  delinquent,  can  take  the  place  of  the  following  pathetic 
inquiry  of  Robert  Lowry,  coming  as  from  the  crushed 
heart  of  a  mother  longing  for  some  tidings  from  a  wayward 
son: 

WUERE   IS    MY   BOY   TO-NIGHT  V 

Where  is  my  wand'riDg  boy  to-night, 

The  boy  of  my  tend'rest  care, 
The  boy  that  was  once  my  joy  and  light, 

The  child  of  my  love  and  prayer? 

Chorus. 

Oh,  where  is  my  boy  to-night? 

Oh,  where  is  my  boy  to-night? 

My  heart  o'erflows,  for  I  love  him,  he  knows  ; 

Oh,  where  is  my  boy  to-night? 

Once  he  was  pure  as  morning  dew. 

As  he  knelt  at  his  mother's  knee ; 
No  face  so  bright,  no  heart  more  true. 

And  none  was  so  sweet  as  he. 

Oh,  could  I  see  you  now,  my  boy, 

As  fair  as  in  olden  time, 
When  prattle  and  smile  made  home  a  joy. 

And  life  was  a  merry  chime ! 

Go  for  my  wand'ring  boy  to-night ; 

Go,  search  for  him  where  you  will ; 
But  bring  him  to  me  with  all  his  blight, 

And  tell  him  I  love  him  still. 

ILLUSTRATION. 

The  following  story  of  a  reckless  young  man  suggests  a 
possible  comfort  in  the  case  of  other  erring  loved  ones,  and 
quite  appropriately  illustrates  the  force  of  the  poem : 


84  The  Criminal  Classes 

A  lady  in  Baltimore  had  a  wayward  son  whose  reckless 
conduct  cost  her  many  tears.  There  were  many  things  in 
her  life  to  make  her  happy,  but  her  anxiety  for  her  head- 
strong boy  saddened  all  her  enjoyments  and  disturbed  her 
peace. 

He  grew  more  indifferent  to  her  love,  and  finally  left  his 
home  for  a  life  of  adventure  in  the  West;  but  happiness 
did  not  come  to  him  in  his  wild  career,  nor  riches  from  his 
eager  search  in  the  mines.  For  a  time  the  new  freedom 
gratified  him,  but  his  restless  spirit  could  not  be  contented 
even  with  that. 

By  some  means,  his  mother  kept  track  of  his  wander- 
ings, and  was  able  to  send  him  messages  of  love,  but  they 
brought  few  or  no  replies.  At  a  meeting  in  Baltimore,  she 
heard  the  Rev.  Eol^ert  Lowry's  touching  poem,  that  has 
Ijeen  so  often  sung,  and  the  words  exactly  uttered  her  own 
feelings : 

"Where  is  my  wanu'ring  boy  to-nightV"  etc. 

The  weeping  woman  copied  the  verses,  and  sent  them  to 
her  son  in  a  letter.  Xo  word  from  him  ever  reached  her 
in  return.  At  last  she  lost  all  trace  of  him,  not  even  know- 
ing that  he  had  received  her  message.  Then,  after  weary 
waiting,  tidings  came,  bitter  tidings,  strangely  mingled 
with  consolation. 

Her  "wandering  boy"'  had  fallen  a  victim  to  his  restless 
passion.  In  some  daring  expedition  on  one  of  the  Rocky 
Mountain  trails,  he  had  become  separated  from  his  party 
and  lost.  His  body  was  found  in  a  cave,  where  he  had  died 
of  hunger  and  exhaustion.  By  his  side  was  an  unfinished 
letter  to  his  mother.  In  it  he  craved  for  forgiveness,  as  he 
had  already  asked  the  forgiveness  of  PTeaven.  He  had  re- 
ceived the  poem  she  sent  him,  he  said,  and  it  had  melted 
his  heart,  and  bad  led  him  to  repentance. 


Causes  and  Cures  85 


XXVII. 

A  Mother's  Call. 

Second  only  to  "Where  Is  My  Boy  To-Xight?"  it  has 
turned  many  a  wayward  soul  toward  home,  and  started 
many,  many  penitent  tears : 

COME    HOME,    MY   BOY. 

0  my  boy,  with  anxious  feeling, 
Tlirobs  my  troubled  heart  for  thee, 

While  I  watch  amid  the  gloaming, 

For  thy  footsteps  on  the  stairs  ; 
But  they  come  not !  no,  they  come  not ! 

And  my  sad  forebodings  tell, 
As  the  deep'ning  shades  grow  darker, 

With  thy  soul  it  is  not  well. 

Chorus. 

Come!  O  come!  what  makes  thee  linger? 

What  allures  thee  thus  to  roam? 
^lother's  heart  i.s  almost  breaking; 

O  my  boy  !  come  home,  come  home. 

Think,  my  boy,  't  was  I  who  loved  thee, 
All  thy  helpless  childhood  years  ; 

1  who  passed  without  a  murmur, 

Sleepless  nights  of  care  and  tears. 
Canst  thou  in  my  age  forsake  me. 

Thou,  my  pride,  my  cradle  joy? 
Only  God  can  ever  love  thee 

As  I  love  thee  now,  my  boy. 

In  tlie  window  every  evening, 

Still  I  leave  a  light  for  thee ; 
And  it3  beams  so  bright  and  cheerful 

In  the  distance  thou  canst  see. 
Come,  and  tell  me  all  thy  wand'rings — 

Lay  thy  burning  cheek  to  mine. 
While  I  whisper  hope  and  comfort 

From  a  Savior's  Word  divine. 


86  The  Criminal  Classes 


One  by  one  my  sands  are  ebbing; 

Yes,  my  latest  hours  draw  nigh, 
Let  these  eyes  onoe  more  behold  thee, 

I^t  me  bless  thee  ere  I  die. 
Oh  !  thou  wilt  not  now  refuse  me — 

Come,  my  boy,  no  longer  roam, 
For  my  heart  is  almost  breaking ; 

O  my  boy  !  come  home,  come  home  I 


Causes  and  Cures  87 


XXVIII. 

A  Convict  to  His  Mother. 

I  'VE  wandered  far  from  thee,  mother, 

Far  from  my  happy  home ; 
I  've  left  the  land  that  gave  me  birth, 

lu  other  lauds  to  roam  : 
And  time  since  then  has  rolled  its  years, 

And  marked  them  on  my  brow. 
Yet  I  have  often  tliought  of  thee — 

I  'm  thinking  of  thee  now. 

I  'm  thinking  of  the  day,  mother. 

When  at  thy  tender  side 
You  watched  the  dawning  of  my  youth. 

And  kissed  me  in  your  pride ; 
Then  brightly  was  my  heart  lit  up 

With  hopes  of  future  joy. 
While  your  bright  fancy  honors  wove 

To  deck  your  darling  boy. 

I  'm  thinking  of  the  day,  mother. 

When  with  such  anxious  care 
You  lifted  up  your  heart  to  heaven — 

Your  hope,  your  trust,  was  tliere. 
Fond  memory  brings  thy  passing  words. 

Whilst  tears  stole  down  thy  cheek  ; 
Thy  long,  last  loving  look  told  more 

Than  ever  words  could  speak. 

I  'm  far  away  from  thee,  mother, 

No  friend  is  near  me  now 
To  soothe  me  with  a  tender  word. 

Or  cool  my  burning  brow. 
Tlie  dearest  ties  affection  wove 

Are  now  all  torn  from  me ; 
They  left  me  when  the  trouble  came ; 

They  did  not  love  like  thee. 

I  'm  lonely  and  forsaken  now. 

Unpitied  and  unblest ; 
Yet.  still.  I  would  not  have  thee  know 

How  sorely  I  'm  distressed. 


88  The  Criminal  Classes 


I  know  you  would  not  chide,  mother, 
You  would  not  give  me  blame. 

But  soothe  me  with  your  gentle  woids, 
And  bid  me  hope  again. 

I  would  not  have  thee  know,  mother. 

How  brightest  hoiies  decay  ; 
The  tempter  with  his  l)aneful  cup 

Has  dashed  them  all  away  ; 
And  shame  has  left  his  venom  sting 

To  rack  with  anguish  wild — 
Yet,  still,  I  would  not  have  thee  know 

The  sorrows  of  thy  child. 

Oh  !  I  have  wandered  far.  mother, 

Since  I  deserted  thee. 
And  left  thy  trusting  heart  to  break 

Beyond  the  deep  blue  sea. 
Oh,  mother,  still  1  love  tliee  well. 

And  long  to  hear  thee  speak. 
And  feel  again  thy  balmy  breath 

Upon  my  careworn  cheek. 

But,  oh  !  there  is  a  thought,  mother, 

Pervades  my  beating  breast, 
That  thy  freed  .spirit  may  have  flown 

To  its  eternal  rest. 
And  while  I  wipe  the  tears  away 

There  whispers  in  my  ear 
A  voice  that  speaks  of  heaven  and  thee. 

And  bids  me  seek  thee  there. 


Causes  and  Cures  89 


XXTX. 

Special  Temperance  Service. 

A  Prisoner's  Address — The  Tidal  Wave — A  Temptation  to  Drink — 
A  Tender  Caution — A  Student — A  Graduate — A  Drunkard — A 
Felon. 

For  two  successive  Sabbaths  the  time  usually  occupied 
for  pra3'er-meetings  and  Sunday  school  was  taken  in  the 
interest  of  temperance.  Freedom  was  given  to  all  to  speak, 
and  some  most  wonderful  experiences  were  given.  At  the 
close  of  the  second  service,  about  three  hundred,  by  up- 
lifted hands,  pledged  entire  abstinence  in  the  future.  In 
response  to  a  special  request,  the  following  was  given,  for 
the  delivery  of  which  eighteen  minutes  were  allowed : 

THE   TIDAL    WAVE. 

(A  Temperance  Address  delivered  to  tbe  convicts  of  the  Oliio  Peniten- 
tiary in  tlie  Prisoners'  Prayer-Fleeting,  on  Sunday,  September  26,  1880,  by 
Thomas  H.  Thomas,  a  five  years'  convict  from  Cincinnati.) 

If  any  of  you  have  ever  been  in  France,  you  may  have  observed 
the  great  number  of  fruit-trees  that  grow  in  that  land.  While  the 
farmer  has  his  orchards  inclosed  by  the  fences  of  his  farm,  there  is, 
growing  on  the  outside  of  these  fences,  along  each  side  of  the 
public  roads,  a  continuous  line  of  fruit-trees  ;  and  the  fruit  that 
grows  on  these  trees  is  free,  so  that  there  is  always  an  abundance  of 
fruit,  in  season,  for  the  poor,  the  stranger,  or  the  traveler  who  may 
be  passing  through  that  land.  This  is  in  accordance  with  the  law, 
which  compels  a  man,  when  he  eats  any  kind  of  fruit,  to  cover  up 
the  seed  in  the  earth.  So  that  when  a  man  eats  any  fruit,  as  an 
apple  or  peach,  he  collects  the  seed  in  his  hand,  and,  stepping  off  to 
one  side  of  the  road,  he  digs  a  hole  with  a  stick  or  the  toe  of  his 
boot,  and  into  this  hole  he  drops  the  seed.  He  then  covers  it  up, 
tramps  it  lightly  down,  and  goes  on  his  way.  Now,  in  doing  this, 
he  complies  with  the  requirements  of  the  law.  After  he  deposits 
the  seed  in  the  ground,  it  may  rot  there,  or,  springing  up  a  few 
inches  or  a  foot,  it  may  be  kicked  over  or  broken  off  by  some  passer- 


90  The  Criminal  Classes. 


by  ;  but  with  all  this  he  has  nothius  to  do.  He  must  cover  the 
seed,  and  then  he  is  free.    There  his  duty  ends. 

In  the  city  of  Cincinnati,  a  few  years  ago,  while  a  lady,  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Women's  Christian  Temperance  Union,  wa.s  passing 
along  one  of  the  principal  streets,  she  saw,  walking  before  her,  two 
young  men.  They  were  well-dressed,  well-educated,  and,  apparently, 
had  been  well-raised.  They  had  not  preceded  her  very  far,  until 
she  discovered,  by  their  loud  and  boisterous  conversation,  that 
they  were  both  intoxicated  ;  and,  from  their  actions,  she  correctly 
Judged  that  they  were,  at  that  time,  in  search  of  some  convenient 
saloon. 

Now,  this  lady  was  a  Christian  at  work.  She  was  one  of  those 
Christians  who  sow  the  seed  of  Christianity  by  the  wayside,  cover 
it  up,  and  leave  the  rest  to  God's  own  great  care.  It  might  not 
bear  fruit  to  reward  her  for  her  labor  while  she  was  on  earth  ;  but 
she  cared  not  for  all  this — her  part  was  to  sow  the  seed. 

Many  a  woman,  seeing  two  drunken  men  before  her,  would 
have  crossed  to  the  opposite  side  of  the  street.  Not  so  this  woman. 
She  was  as  sensitive  and  refined  as  any  woman,  but  she  had  a 
work  to  do.  She  had  partaken  of  the  sweet  fruits  of  temperance, 
faith,  hope,  charity,  and  love,  and,  exhaling  the  blessed  fragrance  at 
every  breath,  she  was  always  in  search  of  some  favorable  spot  on 
which  to  drop  the  seed :  and  now  her  motherly  heart  went  out  in 
prayer  and  in  pity  for  these  two  unfortunate  young  men;  .she  longed 
for  an  opportunity  to  do  them  good,  she  longed  for  an  opportunity 
to  speak  to  them,  and  it  came  at  last.  Here  was  ground  on  which 
the  seed  might  fall ;  hard  and  stony,  it  is  true,  yet  with  God's 
blessing  might  it  not  outgrow  the  thorns?  She  would  at  least  try, 
and  she  got  her  seed  ready. 

The  young  men  passed  along  the  sidewalk  before  her,  looking  up 
at  each  house  and  sign,  until,  at  length,  they  came  to  a  saloon  of 
rather  more  than  ordinarily  inviting  appearance.  Before  this  they 
halted.  There  was  a  green  screen  inside  of  the  door;  the  long 
counter  was  topped  with  marlile ;  gay  pictures  decorated  the  walls; 
a  handsome  oilcloth  covered  the  floor;  clean  Iwttles  and  glasses 
were  arranged  neatly  upon  the  shelves  ;  the  odor  of  fragrant  liquors 
and  cigars  came  from  the  door,  and  behind  the  bar  stood  the 
friendly  proprietor,  waiting  to  welcome  with  a  smile  all  those  who 
might  favor  him  with  a  call.  Now,  right  above  the  door  of  this 
saloon  was  painted  the  sign  or  title  given  to  the  house,  by  which 
it  was  known  to  its  customers.  It  was  composed  of  three  short 
words. — an  article,  an  adjective,  and  a  i\ouu. — "The  Tidal  Wave!" 
On  the  window  of  this  saloon  was  painted  a  picture;  it  was  the 
picture  of  a  ship  in  full  sail.  Under  the  ship  was  the  sea.  and. 
swelling  up  on  either  side  was  a  great  wave,  and  below  this  picture 
was  painted  again,  in  large,  gilt  letters,  the  suggestive  title  of  the 
saloon,  "The  Tidal  Wave!"     As  the  young  men  halted  in  front  of 


Causes  and  Cures  91 


this  saloon,  one  of  them  looked  up,  and,  reading  the  sign,  called  out, 
loud  enough  for  the  lady  to  hear,  "Hello,  Charlie,  here  's  The 
Tidal  Wave,  let  's  go  in  and  get  a  drink."  The  words  had  scarcely 
left  his  lips  when  the  lady  was  at  his  side,  and,  laying  her  hand 
upon  his  shoulder  kindly,  as  a  mother  might  have  done,  she  said : 
"Yes,  my  voung  friend,  that  's  The  Tidal  Wave  I  It  is  the  tidal 
wave  of  rum,  and  it  sweeps  more  young  men's  souls  into  perdition 
every  year  than  all  the  waves  of  the  sea  combined  !" 

One  moment  more,  and  she  was  gone.  Her  work  was  done.  She 
had  dropped  the  seed,  and,  departing  with  a  prayer  on  her  lips, 
she  left  the  result  to  the  great  Gardener  of  the  world.  The  young 
men  stood  upon  the  sidewalk  until  they  saw  the  lady  turn  a  comer 
of  the  street;  and  then — what  did  they  do?  Uid  they  shake  hands 
and  separate,  and  say  that  that  lady's  words  were  true,  and  resolve 
that  they  would  never  drink  another  drop  while  they  lived?  No, 
they  did  nothing  of  the  kind.  They  did  just  what  any  two 
drunken  men  would  have  done — they  passed  into  the  saloon.  At 
first  neither  of  them  spoke.  They  had  been  taken  by  surprise,  and 
seemed  at  a  loss  for  something  to  say,  until  the  polite  and  attentive 
bar-keeper  called  them  to  themselves  by  suggesting  that  no  doubt 
they  had  come  in  there  to  "take  a  drink."  The  glasses  were  soon 
filled,  and  as  they  were  about  to  lift  them  to  their  lips  one  of  them, 
hesitatingly,  said :  "Charlie,  I  wish  I  had  not  seen  that  woman ; 
I  wish  I  had  not  heard  her  voice,  for  she  puts  me  in  mind  of  my 
mother,  whom  I  have  not  thought  of  before  for  years,  for  that  is 
just  the  way  she  used  to  talk  to  me  before  I  left  home,  and  that  is 
just  the  reason  why  I  left — because,  you  see,  I  drank  a  little,  and 
mother  was  always  talking  about  the  evils  of  rum,  rum,  rum,  until 
I  could  stand  it  no  longer,  so  I  packed  up  and  left  home,  and  I 
had  forgotten  all  about  my  mother  and  her  rum  until  that  woman 
put  me  in  mind  of  her."  The  other  companion  added  something 
about  it  beiig  time  that  women  had  learned  to  mind  their  own 
business  and  let  men's  affairs  alone,  and  the  matter  was  dropped. 
They  swallowed  their  drinks,  and  before  they  staggered  away  from 
that  saloon  at  a  late  hour  that  night  they  had  drunken  many  times 
from  the  tidal  wave  of  which  that  lady  had  so  kindly  warned 
them — "the  tidal  wave  of  nun.  which  sweeps  more  souls  into  perdi- 
tion eveiT  year  than  all  the  waves  of  the  sea  combined." 

Now,  my  friends,  it  is  not  my  purpose,  at  this  time,  to  pursue 
the  history  of  each  of  the  three  individuals  that  I  have  already  in- 
troduced to  you.  The  lady  was  lost  sight  of  at  the  first  comer; 
and,  in  a  few  days  after  the  event  to  which  I  have  just  adverted, 
the  young  men  separated,  and  never  again  met.  But  it  is  my  in- 
tention, at  this  time,  to  trace  the  history  of  the  one  whose  career 
has  been  the  most  eventful,  if  not  the  most  unfortunate  of  the 
three.  It  is  the  one  to  whom  the  lady  addressed  her  plain  but  pene- 
trating words ;   the  one  who  had  not  thought  of  his  mother  for 


92  The  Criminal  Classes 

years;  the  one  wlio  wished  that  he  had  not  seen  that  woman;  had 
not  heard  her  voice;  had  never  met  with  any  person  nor  any  cir- 
cum-stance  to  recall  tiie  reproaches  of  a  mother  who  had  once 
chided  him  for  his  errors,- — one  who  had  yearned  over  him  with  a 
mother's  love ;  one  who  had  smiled  upon  him  with  a  mother's 
smiles;  one  who  had  wept  over  him  with  a  mother's  tears,  until  at 
last  he  left  her.  and  then,  even  then,  had  followed  him  with  a 
mother's  prayers.  This  is  the  one.  my  friends,  of  whom  I  wish  to 
speak  to  you  for  a  few  moments  on  the  present  occasion. 

The  young  man  that  I  have  alluded  to  was  the  son  of  pious  par- 
ents. He  was  brought  up  in  the  church  and  Sabbath  school,  and 
a  happy  future  seemed  to  smile  on  his  infancy.  He  was  the 
youngest  and  petted  one  of  the  family,  a  mother's  pride  and  a 
father's  joy.  He  lived  in  luxury  and  affluence  through  boyhood's 
years,  but  at  last  as  manhood  began  to  dawn  uiwn  him.  there  came 
a  change,  a  sad.  eventful  change,  over  his  once  happy  household; 
for  he  had  learned  to  look  upon  the  wine  when  it  is  red,  and  when 
it  gave  its  color  in  the  cup.  until,  in  the  end,  it  bit  like  a  serpent 
and  stung  him  like  an  adder. 

He  afterward  became  a  student  of  medicine ;  at  another  time  a 
student  of  theology  ;  and  finally  a  graduate  of  one  of  the  first  col- 
leges of  our  laud,  though  his  attainments  did  him  but  little  good. 
As  his  whole  after  life  was  marred  by  indulgence  in  the  intoxi- 
cating bowl,  his  whole  history  since  has  been  one  of  misfortune  and 
crime.  And  now,  my  friends,  we  will  bring  this  young  man  to  the 
city  where  he  was  first  addressed  by  that  dear  woman  who  took 
so  much  interest  in  him — in  him.  an  unknown  stranger,  simply  be- 
cause she  was  a  Christian  at  heart,  and  a  faithful,  working  member 
of  the  Women's  Christian  Temperance  Union.  And,  having  brought 
our  subject  here  to  Ohio,  he  seems  to  be  almost  near  us.  or  even 
with  us,  on  the  present  occasion,  for  he  has  often  stood  upon  the 
same  ground  on  which  some  of  you  have  stood ;  he  has  often  passed 
you  in  your  daily  walks  upon  the  street ;  he  has  often  engaged  with 
some  of  you  in  conversation.  Yes.  and  he  has  often  drunk  fro;'-i 
that  portion  of  the  tidal  wave  which  passes  over  the  city  of  Colum- 
bus, sweeping  its  quota  of  souls  into  perdition  ;  robi)ing  mothers  of 
their  sons  and  wives  of  their  husbands ;  making  little  children 
orphans,  and  filling  the  penitentiary  with  its  victims. 

Now,  there  seems  to  be  such  a  close  connection  between  the  his- 
tory of  this  young  man  and  the  prodigal  of  the  Bible,  such  a  coinci- 
dence of  circumstances,  as  it  were,  that  we  may  be  pardoned  for 
placing  them  side  by  side,  and  making  the  language  of  one  apply  to 
both.  Soon  after  leaving  college,  he.  like  the  prodigal,  demanded 
of  his  father  the  portion  of  the  goods  that  fell  to  him,  and  his 
father  having  divided  with  him  his  living,  he  took  his  journey  into 
a  far  country,  that  is,  to  the  city  of  Cincinnati,  (it  was  far  from 
his  former  home  and  the  scenes  of  brighter  days,)    and  there  he 


Causes  and  Cures  93 


spent  liis  substance  in  about  the  same  manner  as  the  prodigal  had 
spent  his — in  riotous  living,  irle  had  the  division  of  his  father's 
money  in  his  pocket  at  the  time  he  was  addressed  bj'  the  lady 
in  front  of  the  saloon.  Oh !  had  he  never  entered  it,  never 
drunken  another  drop  again,  where  might  he  have  been  standing 
to-day  V  There  is  no  honorable  position  in  society  which  he  might 
not  have  been  qualitied  to  fill.  But,  no  I  He  passed  into  the  saloon, 
and  her  words  were  soon  lost  in  the  delirium  of  drink.  They  were 
soon  forgotten  in  his  revels  with  the  demon  rum !  Forgotten,  like 
the  words  of  his  mother,  and  not  thought  of  again  for  years.  For- 
gotten, till  God,  in  his  own  good  time,  saw  tit  to  recall  them  in  a 
prison  cell.  They  came  back  to  him,  and  sank  deep  down  into  his 
heart  like  arrows  of  remorse  penetrating  the  fountains  of  life. 

At  the  time  the  lady  spoke  to  him,  he  had  nearly  ten  thousand 
dollars  in  his  pocket,  and  in  two  years  from  that  day  he  did  not 
possess  enough  to  purchase  him  his  breakfast  as  he  stood  in  front 
of  a  Vine  Street  restaurant,  moneyless,  hungry  and  without  food. 
All  gone  inside  of  two  years !  Swept  away  by  the  tidal  wave !  But 
his  money  was  not  all  spent  in  Cincinnati ;  Columbus,  Chicago, 
and  other  cities  were  visited  and  did  their  part  toward  diminishing 
it.  The  tidal  wave  of  rum  is  boundless  in  its  course.  It  is  not 
confined  to  any  one  locality  or  place. 

AMien  the  day  came  on  which  he  spent  his  last  dollar,  he  was 
in  St.  Louis.  He  must  have  money,  for  lie  must  have  drink.  So 
he  went  to  a  pawn-broker  and  secured  $100  on  a  handsome  watch 
that  had  cost  three  times  that  amount.  He  returned  to  Chicago, 
and  was  a  second  time  moneyless.  Here  he  parted  with  his  studs 
and  other  jewelry.  The  proceeds  soon  vanished,  and  he  found 
himself  without  anything  moi'e  of  value  on  which  to  secure  money, 
so  he  longed  to  return  to  Cincinnati,  where  he  felt  sure  of  a  wel- 
come by  those  through  whose  hands  most  of  his  money  had  de- 
parted. If  he  could  only  reach  the  Tidal  AVave  Saloon  and  some 
other  of  his  former  favorite  resorts,  surely  he  would  be  provided 
with  drinks  free  for  some  time,  until  something  better  would  turn 
up  for  him — fatal  illusion !  Let  us  see  the  end.  He  reached  Cin- 
cinnati. He  hastened  to  the  Tidal  Wave  Saloon,  but  it  had 
changed  hands.  The  picture  had  been  partly  washed  from  the 
window.  The  floor  was  covered  with  dirt  and  cigar  stumps.  The 
bar  was  attended  by  a  woman  who  seemed  more  anxious  to  secure 
money  than  to  give  it  away.  All  was  changed  there  but  one  thing, 
and  that  was  the  tidal  wave  of  rum — it  flowed  on  the  same.  More 
fiery  and  jjoisonous  now,  no  douI)t,  since  it  had  fallen  to  a  lower 
grafle  of  evil.  He  then  visited  a  saloon  on  Central  Avenue.  Here 
he  had  spent  hundreds  of  dollars  in  a  month.  Surely  he  would 
meet  witli  favor  there.  He  looked  in.  His  heart  beat  fast.  Oh, 
yes.  that  house  was  all  the  same,  it  had  not  changed.  Tlie  proprie- 
tor was  so  glad  to  see  him  that  he  jumped  clear  over  the  counter 


94  The  Criminal  Classes 

to  greet  and  embrace  him  ;  but  after  a  second  look  he  stood  back 
in  surprise.  No  watch,  no  jewelry,  no  money !  The  clothing 
threadbare  and  soiled.  "What,"  said  he,  "spent  all  your  money?" 
"Yes,"  he  replied,  "1  went  West  and  got  broke,  so  I  thought  I 
would  come  back  and  ask  a  little  favor  of  those  with  w^hom  I  spent 
so  much  at  first ;  and  you  know  that  I  left  a  great  deal  of  it  with 
you."  "Yes,  I  know  you  did,  but  you  always  got  the  worth  of 
your  money.  .Where  is  your  watch  V"  "1  sold  it  to  a  Jew  at  St. 
Louis."  "You  used  to  have  some  fine  studs?"  "Yes,  I  left  them 
with  a  pawnbroker  at  Chicago."  "Your  trunks?"  "Pawned  in 
this  city."  "Have  you  nothing  you  can  turn  into  money?  Write 
to  your  friends."  "No ;  I  have  spent  my  money,  pawned  my 
jewels,  sold  my  clothing,  and  have  nothing  more  to  fall  back  on." 
"Well,"  said  the  cunning  proprietor,  "you  are  a  fool  to  have  got 
away  with  all  you  had  ;  here  is  a  pint  of  brandy,  it  is  all  I  can  do 
for  you.  You  had  best  go  to  work,  and  as  soon  as  you  find  times 
better  you  can  come  and  pay  me  seventy-five  cents  for  this  drink." 

The  young  man  put  the  flask  into  his  pocket  and  stepped  into  the 
street ;  alone  in  the  world,  with  no  friend  but  that  bottle.  There 
was  nothing  for  him  now  but  hard  work,  and  he  even  found 
trouble  in  securing  that.  So,  at  length,  having  failed  elsewhere, 
like  the  prodigal  again,  he  joined  himself  to  a  citizen  of  the  coun- 
try, who  sent  him  into  his  fields  to  feed  swine — which  was  really 
a  portion  of  the  work  he  had  to  perform,  for  he  was  employed  as  a 
farm-hand,  to  feed  stock,  in  the  middle  of  winter,  only  a  few  miles 
from  where  we  now  stand.  Now,  some  might  ask  why  he  did  not 
follow  his  profession  as  a  druggist.  I  have  but  one  answer  to 
give — he  was  a  di'unkard !  Saloon-keepers  and  distillers  want 
nothing  to  do  with  the  drunkard.  They  meet  him  at  the  door 
with  a  smile.  Always  welcome  him  to  their  place  of  business,  that 
i.s,  while  his  money  lasts  ;  but  when  that  is  done  he  is  sent  adrift. 

But.  to  return  to  our  subject.  He  soon  found  that  he  was  un- 
fitted for  the  heavy  work  of  the  farm,  and  tried  various  other  occu- 
pations, but  all  with  the  same  result,  for  out  of  every  dollar  earned 
seventy-five  cents  of  it  went  for  rum.  He  might  be  deprived  of 
food,  but  he  would  not  be  deprived  of  drink.  In  the  meantime,  he 
had  very  unwisely  taken  to  himself  a  companion,  one  who  was 
destined  to  l)e  the  sharer  of  his  sorrows — joy.  there  was  none  in 
stove  for  him.  A  loving  wife  now  hung  upon  him  for  support,  now 
clung  to  him  for  protection  ;  but  he  could  not  support  himself,  let 
alone  another.  He  could  not  protect  himself  against  his  one  single 
enemy,  rum;  how,  then,  could  he  sui)i)ort  or  i)r(>tect  niiy  ono  else? 
No,  he  wa?  now  as  a  blighted  plantain,  standing  alone  amidst  the 
sandy  desert,  with  nothing  to  smile  or  live  beneath  his  care.  His 
wife  and  dear  ones  must  share  his  disgrace  and  suffer  with  him. 
He  was  no  longer  the  bright,  promising  young  man  of  six  years 
before;  he  was  a  drunkard.     And  though,  for  a  time,  his  wife  clung 


Causes  and  Cures  95 


to  him  with  all  the  tenacity  of  woman's  devotion  and  love,  she 
was  unable  to  save  him,  powerless  to  redeem  oi-  rescue  him  ;  until 
at  last,  in  an  unguarded  moment,  when  reason  was  partially  de- 
throned, and  his  idol,  rum,  reigned  instead,  he  committed  an  act, 
or  series  of  acts,  for  which  he  was  sent  to  the  Ohio  Penitentiary. 
There  he  became  sober — the  first  time  he  had  I'eally  been  sober 
since  leaving  his  father's  roof  six  years  before.  In  a  prison  cell  I 
Oh,  what  horrors  hung  over  him,  what  anguish  possessed  his  soul, 
when  he  came  to  himself  and  realized  all  that  had  taken  place ! 
Then  it  was  that  the  words  of  that  dear  woman  came  back  to  him. 
He  recalled  the  whole  scene  as  it  had  taken  place  in  front  of  the 
saloon.  In  the  darkness  of  midnight,  as  he  sat  in  his  lonely  prison 
cell,  on  his  hard  and  uncomfortable  bed,  awakened  from  a  fright- 
ful dream,  dimly  at  first,  thread  by  thread,  little  by  little,  it  re- 
turned to  him.  What  was  it  that  that  woman  called  it?  She  said 
it  was  the  tidal  wave  of  rum.  And  what  else":'  Something  about 
men's  souls.  She  said  that  it  swept  more  souls,  yes,  more  young 
men's  souls  into  perdiction  every  year  than  all  the  waves  of  the 
sea.  And,  oh,  how  true  her  words  appeared  to  him  then !  It  had 
not  yet  swept  his  soul  into  perdition,  but  it  had  swept  his  body 
into  a  prison  cell.  It  was  even  worse  than  death  to  him.  He  was 
confined  in  a  living  tomb,  and  could  he  have  seen  his  own  natural 
grave  one  hundred  feet  deep,  gladly  would  he  have  stepped  into 
it  and  been  covered  up  from  the  gaze  of  the  world.  "Man  proposes, 
but  God  disposes,"  and  so  it  was  in  this  case.  The  words  of  the 
lady  returned  to  him,  and  became  as  the  balm  of  Gilead  to  his  poor, 
breaking  heart.  He  saw  the  cause  of  all  his  woe,  and  resolved  on 
bended  knee,  before  Heaven,  that,  by  God's  help,  he  would  become 
a  better  man,  and  never  drink  another  drop  so  long  as  he  should 
live ;  and  he  will  never  break  his  word. 

Mow.  my  friends,  I  wish  that  I  could  bring  all  three  of  these 
persons  here  to-day  and  place  them  before  you  as  they  appeared  in 
front  of  the  Tidal  Wrfve  Saloon  at  that  time,  but  I  cannot  do  so. 
I  cannot  bring  the  lady  here,  for  I  never  saw  her  before,  nor  have 
I  seen  her  since.  I  cannot  bring  the  two  young  men  here,  for, 
about  two  years  ago,  the  one  whom  I  called  Charlie,  while  walk- 
ing along  the  C,  H.  &  D.  track,  near  Cincinnati,  with  a  pint  flask 
of  w'hisky  in  his  pocket,  was  struck  by  a  locomotive,  and  they  gath- 
ered him  up  in  fragments  a  mile  along  the  rails  :  but  it  is  my  privi- 
lege to  present  to  you  the  one  of  whom  I  have  been  speaking  on  the 
present  occasion.  He  stands  before  you,  dishonored  and  disgraced, 
it  is  true,  soon  to  be  cast  back  again  on  the  world,  to  battle  anew 
with  the  same  temptations  to  which  he  once  yielded  so  willingly; 
but,  my  friends,  he  stands  before  you  to-day  as  a  monument  of 
God's  unchanging  love  and  exceeding  great  mercy.  He  has  sinned 
and  he  has  suffered  ;  but  knows  that  God  has  forgiven  him,  and 
"what  God  hath  cleansed,  let  not  man  call  unclean." 


96  Tlie  Criminal  Classes 


And  now,  I  stand  i)efore  you  to-day  as  a  warning,  a  lighthouse, 
as  it  were,  on  the  sea  of  rum ;  no  longer  borne  on  the  tidal  wave, 
but  liaA'ing  been  s'lipwreeked  and  cast  naked  upon  the  rocks,  having 
floated  upon  its  red  surface  till  I  was  almost  near  enough  to  look 
into  the  mouth  of  hell,  I  have  at  last  returned  from  the  painful 
voyage  and  stand  before  you  to  warn  you  of  its  dangei"s.  If  you 
were  about  to  go  on  a  journey  to  some  unknown  part  of  the  world, 
and  some  one  who  had  been  there  before  you  would  come  to  you 
and  say  that  he  had  nearly  frozen  to  death  ;  that  he  was  for  many 
days  without  food,  and  found  it  impossible  to  obtain  any ;  that 
danger  and  death  surrounded  him  on  every  hand,  and  that  all  the 
money  in  the  world  could  not  induce  him  to  perform  the  journey 
a  second  time,  what  would  you  doV  Would  you  go?  No,  not  one 
of  you.  You  would  shrink  back  in  horror  at  the  prospect  before 
you.  and  never  again  think  of  going.  Now,  my  friends,  I  am  just 
such  a  personage.  Ou  and  on,  farther  and  farther  from  the  shores 
of  earthly  happiness;  nearer  and  nearer  to  the  death-line  of  de- 
struction, until  at  last  my  frail  bark  was  dashed  upon  the  break- 
ers :  and  it  is  only  through  God's  mercy  that  I  am  alive  and  in 
the  world  to-day. 

Have  I  spoken  plainly  enough,  or  is  there  any  one  here  who  fails 
to  compre!)end  my  meaning  fully?  To  such  I  would  add  that  I 
ha\e  been  a  drunkard.  I  have  suffered  all  that  a  man  could  suffer 
and  live.  Once  I  was  rich,  but  my  money  all  went  for  rum.  Once 
I  was  loved  and  respected  by  all  who  knew  me,  but  whisky  took 
away  my  character  and  caused  me  to  be  disgraced.  Once  I  was  a 
meud>er  of  God's  house,  and  superintendent  of  the  Sabbath  school, 
where  I  loved  to  hear  the  children  singing  praises  to  the  Redeemer, 
but  whisky  made  the  songs  of  the  bar-room  and  theater  seem  more 
melodious  to  me.  Once  I  lived  with  a  loving,  affectionate  wife,  but 
whisky  caused  me  to  be  parted  from  her,  and  thus  robbed  me  of  the 
dearest  friend  on  earth.  Once  I  was  free  and  happy,  but  to-day 
I  fill  a  convict's  cell.  Rum  robbed  me  of  my  money.  It  robbed 
me  of  my  character.  It  robbed  me  of  my  liberty.  It  robbed  me  of 
my  wife,  and  almost  laid  me  in  a  drunkard's  grave. 


Causes  and  Cures  97 


XXX. 

Drivex  nioM  Home. 

(Note— When  Queen  Prohibition  extended  her  blessed  scepter  over 
the  rum-cursed  city  of  Wellsville.  Ohio,  a  few  months  before  my  arrest, 
one  of  the  saloon-keepers,  whose  place  had  been  closed  by  the  Prohibi- 
tory ordinance,  moved  just  outside  of  the  corporation  limits  and  began 
business  anew,  with  the  following  legend  or  motto  painted  above  his 
door:  "Driven  From  Home."  A  few  days  later  he  found  the  following 
touching  lines  pinned  to  his  door:) 


^^'HAT !  driven  f'rom  home — can  it  really  be. 

In  this  great  land  of  plenty  and  home  of  the  free? 

Come,  answer  me  fairly,  if  this  can  be  true. 

Is  't  the  wife  and  the  child  of  the  drunkard,  or  ijcru? 

You  seem  well-provided,  your  bar-room  is  warm  ; 
You  ha^e  food,  fire,  and  shelter  from  every  storm, 
AVhile  the  cold  blasts  of  winter  seem  piercing  one  thro' — 
Then  surely  this  motto,  it  cannot  mean  you ! 

Then  look  at  your  household, — your  wife  and  your  child.- 
They  are  all  warmly  clad,  while  the  storm  rages  wild ; 
On  the  child  of  the  drunkard  no  stocking  or  shoe. 
Made  homeless  and  hungry  thro'  drink  sold  by  you! 

See  yon  poor  mother,  she  is  tired  and  weeping ; 
All  swollen  her  eyelids,  the  clock  striking  two, 
Still  sewinsr  for  bread  while  her  husband  is  sleeping. 
Made  stupid  and  senseless  on  drink  sold  by  you! 

Poor,  tired  fingers,  oft  pierced  by  the  needles. 
How  glad  would  they  rest,  liut  her  rent  is  long  due ; 
Poor,  tired  limbs,  e\er  aching,  but,  heedless, 
She  toils  for  the  pittance  that  oft  goes  to  you! 

Once  she  was  happy,  and  glad,  and  contented  : 
The  smiles  of  her  loved  one  each  hour  she  knew ; 
Now  broken-hearted,  with  husband  demented. 
On  the  verge  of  starvation  thro'  drink  sold  by  you! 


98  The  Criminal  Classes 


Ere  driuk  had  destroyed  him  and  made  him  a  demon, 
He  sought  all  her  pathway  with  flowers  to  strew ; 
But  rum  changed  his  heart  to  a  desert,  inhuman. 
With  thistles  and  thorns  where  love's  roses  once  grew ! 

Out  on  the  hillside  where  willows  are  keeping 
Kind  watch  o'er  the  graves  of  the  dear  ones  she  knew, 
At  midnight  she  steals  to  their  mounds  oft  and  weeping, 
8he  longs  for  a  bed  by  their  side  'neath  the  dew ! 

There  's  a  wail  from  the  poor-house,  where  widow  and  orphan 
Lament  the  lost  pleasures  of  life  which  they  knew ; 
There  's  a  wail  from  the  scaffold,  the  mad-house  and  prison — 
"IVe  were  driven  from  home  thro'  drink  sold  by  you!" 

(Note.— One  month  later  the  saloon-keeper  sold  out  and  engaged  in 
other  business.  These  facts  can  be  attested  by  any  citizen  of  Wellsville, 
Ohio.— The  Atjthor.) 


Causes  and  Cures  99 


XXXI. 

Mekcy  Sought  and  Obtained. 

Josephine  Tho^ias,  who  said  she  was  a  governess,  was 
arrested  for  being  drunk  and  disorderly.  The  day  follow- 
ing, Justice  Morgan  sent  her  to  the  workhouse  for  three 
months.  Shortly  after,  the  justice  received  from  her  the 
following : 

TO   JUSTICE   MOEGAN. 

Now,  honored  judge,  these  lines  I  send ; 

The  freedom  please  excuse, 
And  kindly  list  to  what  I  say, 

Nor  my  re<iuest  refuse. 

The  time  has  been  in  Blackwell's  Isle 

To  me  of  shame  and  pain ; 
Yet  I  would  lead  a  better  life. 

Were  I  but  free  again. 

I  know  that  I  've  been  in  the  wrong. 

My  faults  I  do  deplore ; 
Remember  One  who  once  hath  said, 

"Arise  and  sin  no  more." 

It  is  the  first  time  in  my  life 

Committed  I  have  been  ; 
A  lesson  I  will  take  to  heart 

From  the  victims  here  I  've  seen. 

There  is  a  saying  very  old, 

"To  mend  it  's  ne'er  too  late." 
Will  you  to  me  grant  clemency. 

My  sentence  mitigate? 

When  you  yourself  will  stand 

Before  the  Judge  of  all, 
May  he  to  you  forgiving  be, 

For  mercy  hear  you  call ! 


100  The  Criminal  Clashes 


And  wheu  these  lines  you  have  read  o'er, 

To  mercy,  judge,  incline ; 
To  err,  you  know,  is  human, 

But  to  forgive,  divine. 

Justice  Morgan  was  so  Mruck  by  this  appeal,  that  he  at 
once  sent  her  a  discharge.  ]\Iiss  Thomas  returned  the  fol- 
lowing acknowledgment  to  the  merciful  justice: 

TO   JUSTICE    MORGAN. 

Oh !  I  have  good  news  to-day, 

My  joy  1  can't  restrain. 
You  've  kindly  granted  my  request, 

I  have  not  asked  in  vain. 

But  words  from  me  are  all  too  weak 

My  gratitude  to  tell : 
I  '11  prove  it  by  my  future  life. 

When  I  leave  my  prison  cell. 

And  once  again,  kind  judge,  accept 

Most  heartfelt  tlianks  from  me, 
For  you  have  mercy  shown  indeed. 

Since  you  have  set  me  free. 

— New  York  Reporter. 


Causes  and  Cures  101 


XXXII. 

Extracts  from  Letters  of  Prisoners  and 
Their  F'Riends. 

A  Prisoner  on  Death  of  His  Mother — A  Husband  to  His  Wife 
after  Notice  of  the  Death  of  His  Mother — A  Brother  Wiihin 
to  a  Brother  Without — A  Young  Man  to  His  Mother — Hus- 
band Urges  Wife  to  Educate  the  Children — A  Mother  in  Ger- 
many to  the  Chaplain  in  Behalf  of  Sou — A  Mother  in  EnglaUvl 
to  the  Chaplain  about  a  Son — A  Prisoner  to  the  Governor  in 
Plea  for  Pardon. 

A  United  States  prisoner,  on  receipt  of  a  notice  of  the 
death  of  his  mother,  wrote  to  his  wife :  "I  woukl  be  a 
happy  man  to-night  if  I  could  lay  my  hand  on  my  heart 
and  say,  I  have  never  done  anything  to  cause  her  pain  and 
sorrow.  There  must  be  some  consolation  to  that  person 
who,  in  mind  and  heart,  can  go  to  friends  when  dead  and 
sa}',  'I  have  always  done  right  by  them.' " 

S.  P.  B.,  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  said  to  his  wife  on  the  death 
of  his  mother :  "I  know  mother's  last,  dying  thoughts  were 
with  me,  and  I  would  rather  possess  her  forgiveness  and 
blessing  than  live  in  a  palace  without  them."  Touching 
her  funeral :  "I  wish  my  feelings  to  repose  within  my  own 
breast,  and  the  charitv  of  silence  touching  my  name  is  all 
I  ask." 

From  a  Ijrother  within  to  a  brother  without  the  prison : 

"Often  into  folly  straying, 
O  my  mother,  how  we  grieved  her ! 
Oft  I  heard  her  for  me  praying. 
Till  the  gushing  tears  relieved  her. 
And  she  quietly  raised  and  smiled. 
Saying,  "God  will  keep  my  child." 


10'^  The  Criminal  Classes 

From  a  young  man  to  his  mother,  who  had  previously, 
in  a  letter  to  him,  said,  "j\Iy  heart  refuses  to  pray  for  those 
who  were  the  means  of  your  trouble."  He  replied :  "Bless 
them  that  curse  you,  and  jjray  for  them  that  despitefuUy 
use  you.  He  who  cannot  forgive  breaks  down  the  bridge 
over  ^\'hich  he  must  cross." 

A  husband  urges  his  wife  to  educate  the  children,  and 
says:  "How  sadly  I  neglected  my  education,  and  how 
different  it  would  have  been  with  me  now,  if  I  had  de- 
voted all  leisure  hours  to  the  attainment  of  useful  knowl- 
edge." 

A  mother  residing  in  German}^,  in  behalf  of  her  son,  but 
a  boy,  to  the  chaplain,  said:  "We  kindly  urge  you  to  stand 
by  our  son,  and  do  him  all  the  good  you  can.  We  fear  that 
our  poor  boy  will  die  in  prison.  Tell  him  that,  notwith- 
standing he  wandered  from  his  home  and  forsook  his  par- 
ents, we  love  him  still." 

From  a  mother  in  England,  in  the  interest  of  her  son : 
"I  thank  you  for  the  interest  you  have  taken  in  my  poor 
boy.  Your  letter  has  given  me  great  comfort.  Do  you 
really  think  my  poor,  misguided  son  is  penitent?  Unless 
he  is,  it  would  cause  me  more  great  trouble,  if  I  were  to 
bring  him  home,  and  perhaps  greater  trouble  to  himself. 
I  am  greatly  troubled  about  him.  Xotliing  would  give  me 
more  pleasure  than  to  be  sure  that  he  has  changed  for  the 
better.    His  father  will  do  nothing  for  him." 

To  the  Governor  of  Ohio,  in  a  plea  for  pardon,  a  pris- 
oner says : 

"Like  a  sparrow  alone  on  a   honsetop, 

Like  an  island  isolated  at  sea. 
In  life's  great  ocean  but  one  drop. 

While  breakers  are  dashing  o'er  me. 
Alone,  without  money  or  friends 

Upon  life's  ladder,  knocked  from  the  top, 
I  lieseech  thee,  O  head  of  Ohio, 

Please  order  my  service  to  stop." 


Causes  and  Cures  103 


XXXIII. 

A  Plea  Against  Capital  Punishment  by  a  Criminal. 

Cain  Feared  God — However  Heinous  Cain's  Diabolical  Crime  May 
Have  Been,  God  Showed  Him  Mercy — Capital  Punishment  a 
Sure  Kelic  of  Ancient  Mythology. 

History  puts  Cain  upon  record  as  being  the  first  mur- 
derer, but  did  God  say,  "'Thou  heinous  villain,  thou  shalt 
die  an  awful  death"  ?  jSIo,  not  by  any  means — Cain  feared 
G-od.  Yet,  however  heinous  and  diabolical  Cain's  crime 
may  have  been,  God  showed  him  mercy,  as  is  recorded  in 
Genesis  4:15,  "And  the  Lord  said  unto  him.  Therefore 
whosoever  slayeth  Cain,  vengeance  shall  be  taken  on  hiin 
sevenfold."  Capital  punishment  is  a  sure  relic  of  barbar- 
ism handed  down  to  us  by  believers  in  the  ancient  mythol- 
ogy. Death  has  been  inflicted  in  many  curious  ways  in  all 
ages,  some  by  stoning,  as  was  Achan,  who  stole  an  ingot  of 
gold,  Socrates  by  poison,  some  at^the  stake,  others  by  shoot- 
ing, some  upon  the  cross,  as  did  our  Lord  die  the  physical 
death. 

In  most  all  ages  there  has  been  a  so-called  effort  put 
forth  in  behalf  of  a  more  humane  system  that  would  send 
the  soul  of  the  condemned  to  the  presence  of  his  Maker 
in  an  easy  way  in  the  eyes  of  the  living,  but  that  way  might 
be  the  most  cruel  to  him  that  is  waiting  his  last  summons 
to  leave  this  world  at  an  untimely  time. 

The  question  arises.  Is  capital  punishment  a  necessity? 
If  so,  how  do  the  several  States  in  our  Union  get  along 
without  it?  If  you  will  notice,  the  percentage  of  murders 
is  greater  in  States  where  capital  punishment  exists  than 
in  States  where  it  does  not  exist.  This  is  a  strong  plea 
in  behalf  of  its  abolishment.  31194. 

7 


10-1  The  Criminal  Classes 


XXXIV. 

Father  's  a  Convict  and  Mother  Is  Dead. 

(Note.— While  a  private  watchman  in  one  of  our  lai-ger  cities  was 
making  his  midnight  round,  a  few  mont lis  ago,  he  stumbled  over  the 
prostrjite  form  of  a  little  girl,  who  was  sleeping  in  a  hallway.  On  being 
questioned  about  her  home,  she  said  she  had  none;  that  her  father  was  a 
convict  and  her  mother  was  dead.) 

Out  in  the  stormy  night  sadly  I  roam, 
I  have  no  father,  no  mother,  no  home ; 
No  one  to  love  me,  and  they  who  pass  by 
Push  me  aside  when  I  venture  too  nigh  I 
Tired  and  hungry  I  've  wandered  all  day. 
Asking  for  work,  but  1  'm  "Too  small,"  they  say ; 
Down  in  some  hallway  I  '11  now  lay  my  head, 
Father  's  a  convict  and  mother  is  dead. 

We  were  so  happy  when  father  was  free, 
.     Poor  little  baby  and  mother  and  me : 

Troubles  came  fast  when  they  took  him  away, 
Baby  and  I  oft  too  hungry  to  play. 
Slowly  they  faded,  and.  one  stormy  night, 
I  found  both  their  faces  aU  silent  and  white; 
Then,  with  the  tears  falling,  slowly  I  said, 
Father  's  a  convict  and  mother  is  dead. 

Oh,  if  the  judge  could  have  seen  mother's  tears 
After  his  sentence  of  seven  long  years  I 
No  food  and  no  fire,  she  wasted  away, 
Too  sickly  to  work  and  too  wretched  to  pray  ! 
Now  I  'm  alone — God  of  pity,  look  down  ! 
Or  soon  I  may  be  like  the  girls  of  the  town  ; 
No  one  to  help  me,  I  beg  for  my  bread, 
Father  's  a  convict  and  mother  is  dead. 

— T.  S.,  0.  P. 


Causes  and  Cures  105 


XXXV. 

Thanksgiving  in  Prison. 

The  exercises  on  special  occasions  in  prison  chapels  are 
usually  quite  interesting  and  helpful.  Here  is  a  brief 
account  of  a  Thanksgiving  service  in  the  Ohio  Penitentiary 
in  1881 : 

The  exercises  consisted  of  singing,  reading,  and  speeches. 
After  the  introductory  services,  the  chaplain  read  the  proc- 
lamation of  the  President  and  the  Governor,  and  remarked 
that  they  referred  to  the  prisoners  as  well  as  to  others. 
He  spoke  of  affairs  at  the  prison  in  general,  and  then  in- 
troduced Governor  Foster. 

Governor  Foster,  in  his  address,  said  that  his  view  of  the 
case  was  that  these  men  had  reason  to  be  thankful  that 
prison  life  is  not  now  what  it  was  a  century  or  more  ago, 
when  prison  officials  seemed  to  act  as  though  it  were  their 
duty  to  make  the  prisoners  as  miserable  as  possible. 

The  Governor  said  he  had  not  issued  as  many  pardons 
as  some  of  his  predecessors.  Imprisonment,  in  his  judg- 
ment, is  not  inflicted  so  much  for  punishment  of  the  indi- 
vidual as  it  is  for  admonition  to  others.  He  described  the 
legal  proceedings  necessary  to  application  for  pardon.  His 
rule  was  to  believe  that  the  courts  had  not  erred,  but  when 
convinced  that  injustice  had  been  done,  he  granted  par- 
don. He  was  pressed  by  mothers,  day  after  day,  to  pardon 
their  sons.  He  had  yet  to  find  the  first  mother  who  did 
not  claim  her  son  was  innocent.  'TIow  do  you  know?" 
he  would  ask.  *^hy,  he  told  me  so,"  was  always  the  reply. 
"As  long  as  your  mother  lives,"  said  the  Governor,  with 
more  touching  emphasis  in  his  voice  than  usual  on  the 


106  The  Criminal  Classes 

rostrum,  "you  have  one  friend  you  can  count  upon."  He 
then  spoke  of  devotion  of  wives,  and  said :  "I  suspect  you 
men  would  hardly  be  as  loyal  to  your  wives  as  they  are  to 
you.  Sisters  are  almost  as  loyal  to  brothers  as  mothers  to 
sons."  During  this  portion  of  the  Governors  talk,  men  in 
the  audience  were  observed  choking  back  emotion.  The 
Governor  M'as  received  with  ever}^  manifestation  of  great 
pleasure. 

Time  being  allowed  for  remarks  from  the  prisoners,  some 
five  or  six  spoke,  and  a  set  of  resolutions,  appropriate  to 
the  occasion,  drafted  by  Isadore  Roskopf,  of  Cleveland, 
was  adopted  by  a  standing  vote. 

The  most  marked  feature  of  the  day  was  the  issue  of  par- 
dons to  Isadore  Eoskopf  and  Doctor  Hull. 

OUR  THANKSGIVrPfG. 
By  a  Prisoner. 

Tlie  law  expounded  and  made  clear, 

Was  what  they  wished  to  know ; 
But.  after  all,  we  're  led  to  fear. 

To  some  *t  was  quite  a  blow. 

The  chaplain,  in  his  usual  way. 
'  Explained  the  word  "present," 

Though  on  the  program  all  the  while, 
No  one  knew  what  it  meant. 

'■  He  said  the  Governor  would  tell 

Roskopf  why  it  was  there. 
While  Mrs.  Thomas  might  as  well 
Give  Dr.  Hull  a  scare. 

My  story  now  I  think  is  done ; 

Thev  each  received  a  pardon — 
Nor  happier  men  lived  under  sun 

Since  Adam  left  the  garden. 

Some  resolutions  then  were  passed, 

(By  prisoners  presented.) 
Which  told  of  troubles  in  the  past. 

And  how  they  had  repented. 


Causes  and  Cures  107 


XXXVI. 

Pardon  Scene. 

A  Wife,  with  Others,  Calls  at  Chaplain's  Office — Holds  a  Pardon 
for  Her  Husband — Husband  and  Wife  Meet — Pardon  Pre- 
sented— Wife  Offers  a  Prayer — The  Prayer. 

One  afternoon,  accompanied  by  a  neighbor  lady,  Mrs.  E., 
the  wife  of  Mr.  R.,  a  prisoner  from  Sidney,  Ohio,  entered 
my  office,  followed  by  Warden  Thomas,  Clerk  DeBruin, 
and  my  wife.  Mrs.  E.  held  in  her  hand  a  certificate  of  par- 
don which  she  had  just  obtained  from  Governor  Foster,  and 
asked  that  she  might  see  her  husband.  He  was  immedi- 
ately sent  for,  and  the  entire  party  invited  into  my  con- 
sultation room.  On  the  arrival  of  the  prisoner,  his  wife, 
without  a  sign  of  emotion,  affectionately  greeted  him,  in- 
quired about  his  health,  and  asked  if  he  were  reconciled 
to  his  lot.  Then,  addressing  him,  she  said:  "Husband, 
J  bring  to  you  a  pardon  from  the  Governor."  Handing 
him  the  coveted  document,  she  continued:  "This  will 
release  you  from  this  prison,  and  enable  you  to  return  with 
me  to  our  home  and  family.  You,  however,  greatly  need 
another  pardon,  which  may  bring  you  into  peaceful  rela- 
tions with  the  King  of  kings  and  secure  for  you  the  need- 
ful strength  to  withstand  the  evil  forces  by  which  you 
were,  in  the  past,  overcome."  Then  kneeling  at  his  side, 
she  offered  the  following  prayer :  "0  dear  Savior,  I  thank 
thee  for  what  I  am  permitted  to  realize  this  day.  For 
months  past,  in  deep  sorrow,  I  have  l^een  pleading  with 
thee  for  help ;  now  my  prayers  are  turned  to  praises.  For 
months,  only  thou  Imowest  how  much  sorrow  I  have  en- 
dured, and  how  often  it  seemed  that  I  and  my  children 


108  The  Criminal  Classes 

would  come  to  want;  but  thou  didst  sustain  us.  Oh,  I 
thank  thee  that  in  my  elt'orts  to  secure  this  pardon  for  my 
dear  husband  thou  didst  help  me,  and  thou  didst  influence 
the  mind  of  Governor  Foster  to  grant  to  us  this  day  his 
freedom.  Now,  dear  Savior,  touch  the  heart  of  my  hus- 
band. Grant  to  him  full  pardon  of  all  his  sins,  and  make 
him  a  Christian  indeed,  so  that  he  may  never  again  Ije  led 
astray,  and  so  that  in  the  future  we  may  live  together  in 
peace  and  love." 


Causes  and  Cures  109 


XXXVII. 

Assassination  of  President  Garfield — July,  1881. 

Prior  to  Sabbath,  July  3,  1881,  and  Monday,  the  4th, 
arrangements  were  made  for  special  services  appropriate  to 
the  date.  The  sudden  shock  produced  by  the  attempted 
assassination  of  the  President,  and  the  deep  sorrow  occa- 
sioned thereby,  necessarily  caused  a  change  in  the  program, 
so  as  to  appropriately  recognize  the  national  calamity.  At 
half-past  eight  on  Sabbath  morning,  both  the  members  of 
the  prayer-meeting  society  and  the  Sunday  school  were 
gathered  into  the  chapel,  and  a  general  speaking-meeting 
was  held,  in  which  officers,  visitors,  and  prisoners  partici- 
pated. Quite  a  number  of  prisoners  referred  in  touching 
words  to  their  love  for  their  country,  and  sorrow  because  of 
the  sad  events  of  the  hour.  One  life-man  said :  "I  bear  tes- 
timony against  the  notion  that  the  eagle,  or  ensign  of  lib- 
erty never  settles  in  a  prison.  I  still  love  my  country.  I 
still  cherish  the  word  'liberty,'  even  here.  I  think  I  receive 
Ijenefits  and  feel  the  good  influence  of  it.  I  am  not  a  pray- 
ing man ;  but  by  the  chaplain's  permission  I  will  offer  one 
73rayer."  Lifting  his  hands,  he  said,  "0  Lord,  preserve  the 
life  of  our  President." 

At  the  preaching  hour  all  available  space  for  visitors  and 
members  of  the  board  of  directors  was  occupied,  and  most 
of  the  officers  were  present.  In  the  opening  prayer,  a  plea 
for  consolation  to  the  nation,  succor  to  the  family  of  the 
President,  and  recovery  for  the  Chief  Executive  elicited 
some  hearty  amens. 

Later,  after  the  death  of  President  Garfield,  a  memorial 
service  aa'as  held  in  the  prison  chapel,  when  a  prisoner  sub- 


110  Tlie  Criminal  Classes 

mitted  a  resolution  expressing  the  sentiment  of  the  pris- 
oners, which,  by  a  standing  vote,  was  unaniniously  adopted. 
For  resolution,  see  Chapter  VIII. 


Causes  and  Cures  111 


XXXVIII. 

A  Peculiar  Collection. 

From  the  newppapers  which  the  inmates  of  the  Ohio 
penitentiary  were  permitted  to  receive  and  read,  they  were 
made  familiar  with  reports  relating  to  the  destitution  and 
consequent  suffering  of  people  from  the  effects  of  fires  in 
Michigan.  On  Sabbath,  in  the  regular  morning  prayer- 
meeting  reference  was  made  in  some  remarks  by  the  pris- 
oners to  this,  and  a  desire  expressed  that  they  be  permitted 
to  contribute  something  for  relief.  Again  on  the  following 
Sabbath  remarks  were  made  with  reference  to  this,  and 
again  the  desire  was  expressed  that  the  inmates  of  the  in- 
stitution be  permitted  to  give  something  toward  relief.  A 
suggestion  was  made  by  one  that  they  might  deny  them- 
selves at  least  their  weekly  rations  of  tobacco,  and  give  the 
value  thereof  for  this  purpose.  This  was  briefly  discussed 
by  them,  and  there  seemed  to  he  a  general  desire  for  this 
privilege.  Warden  Thomas,  a  noble-hearted.  Christian 
man,  being  present,  said  to  them,  "1  have  heard  your  talk 
about  this  matter  with  much  interest.  When  you  began 
to  talk  I  wondered  what  you  had  that  you  could  give.  I 
know  your  weekly  allowance  for  tobacco  is  yours,  and  while 
I  would  not  solicit  you  to  give  it,  or  anything  else,  I  would 
not  deny  you  the  privilege  of  giving  to  this  cause,  if  you 
generally  express  a  desire  to  do  so."  When  the  entire  num- 
ber of  y)risoners  were  seated  in  the  chapel  for  preaching, 
the  Avarden  stated  to  them  what  propositions  had  been 
made  in  the  prayer-meeting,  and  suggested  that  all  present 
who  desired  to  give  their  rations  of  tobacco  this  week 
should  raise  their  handset   A  unanimous  uplifting  of  hands 


112  The  Criminal  Classes 

was  the  result,  which  made  me  sa}^,  "I  never  saw  it  so  in 
Israel."  They  were  then  informed  that  their  contribu- 
tions would  be  received  at  the  chaplain's  office  during  the 
week,  and  that  only  sucli  as  desired  to  contribute  should 
give. 

This  unsolicited  collection  was  received,  and  the  results 
were  both  amusing  and  gratifying.  Here  is  the  collection 
just  as  it  came  to  the  office  of  the  chaplain:  Six  hundred 
and  sixty-four  rations  of  tobacco,  sold  for  $33.5-1;  one  in- 
laid box  made  in  prison,  sold  for  $5;  six  small  rustic 
frames,  four  tooth-picks,  one  chain,  one  hair-chain,  one  re- 
vised New  Testament,  one  spectacle-case,  two  pairs  of 
socks,  two  towels,  one  old  watch,  tidy-edging  and  needle- 
work, sold  for  $5.05;  cash  from  private  funds,  $48.67;  spe- 
cial from  Hayden's  shop,  $1G.  Total,  $108.26.  Of  the 
above  amount  about  $6.50  was  given  by  the  women.  The 
amount  was  forwarded  to  Ex-Governor  Baldwin,  Detroit, 
Michigan,  with  the  request  that  it  be  placed  to  the  credit 
of  the  prisoners  in  the  Ohio  penitentiary  as  an  expression 
of  their  sympathy  with  suffering  humanity.  In  due  time 
it  was  acknowledged. 

Of  all  the  collections  ever  taken  by  the  writer  he  has 
never  witnessed  such  general  manifestations  of  a  longing 
to  give,  nor  such  extensive  giving  according  to  al)ility,  as 
in  this  case.  Truly  it  may  be  said,  "They  gave  all  they 
had."  Many  of  them  did  without  toliacco  entirely  for  a 
week,  while  quite  a  number  were  by  this  impressed  to  aban- 
don entirely  the  use  of  tobacco. 

With  the  contributions  T  received  quite  a  number  of 
communications,  which  wore  significant,  from  a  few  of 
wliich  I  give  some  extracts: 

CrrAPLATX:  I  give  my  plus  of  tobacco  with  a  free  heart;  would 
pivp  more  if  it  laid  in  my  power. 

Sir:  This  is  a  small  gift,  hut  God  knows  I  give  it  with  the 
sanv^  spirit  that  moved  the  woman  wht)  gave  two  mites. 


JOauses  and  Cures  113 

Dear  Chaplain  :  The  Lord  bless  this  poor  gift  and  all  who 
suffer.     O  God,  bless  my  own  dear  family. 

I  am  willing  to  give  my  tobacco,  not  only  for  one  week,  but  for 
six  months. 

Chaplain  :  I  am  anxious  to  add  a  mite  to  aid  the  sufferers. 
Would  be  willing  to  work  extra  time  if  the  benefit  thereof  could 
go  to  them. 

Here  is  my  gift.  "Who  hath  this  world's  goods  and  seeth  his 
brother  have  need,  and  shutteth  up  his  bow'els  of  compassion  from 
him,  how  dwelleth  ihe  love  of  God  in  him?" 

Here  is  my  mite — accept  it,  please ; 
I  'm  sure  it  is  worth  something ; 
It  's  better  far  than  half  as  much 
And  twice  as  good  as  nothing. 

The  following,  which  I  give  in  full,  accompanied  the 
gift  of  a  young  man,  of  a  good  family,  an  Israelite : 

Dear  Chaplain. 

Men,  who  for  sins  committed,  in  prison  penance  do. 

Convicts  though  they  are,  their  hearts  are  large  and  true. 

See  how  quick  the  appeal  is  answered  when  suffering  needs  their 

aid. 
How  quick  to  show  their  sympathy  when  once  a  call  is  made. 

Even  they,  the  rough  and  sinful,  still  show  they  have  a  soul : 
Though  suffering  and  hardened,  you  may  see  the  tear-drop  roll ; 
Perliaps  some  thought  of  mothers,  and  happy  by-gone  days. 
L'ke  a  golden  fitful  shadow  o'er  their  memory  plays. 

They   have   known    the   anguish   of   a   heart   that   's   crushed   and 

bruised ; 
They  have  felt  repentance,  while  over  sins  they  mused. 
Perhaps  you  think  they  're  hardened  to  whisperings  so  mild. 
But  remember  that  not  long  ago  they,  too.  were  called  "my  child." 

What  matter  if  they  formerly  took  part  in  sin  and  strife? 
Only  a  little  faith  is  needed  to  gain  eternal  life. 
What  matter  if  they  formerly  the  Word  did  not  believe  ; 
They  know  that  in  repenting  His  love  they  will  receive. 

Now  tell  it  to  the  outside  world,  for  they  must  also  know 
That  some  of  us  are  trying  for  a  new  harvest  now  to  sow. 
Oh,  let  the  crop  be  golden,  blessed  with  God's  holy  love. 
So  when  we  leave  this  earthlv  home  aro  to  that  one  above. 

J.  R. 


11-i  The  Criminal  Classes 


XXXIX. 

A  Book  Order. 

Turns;    Poet — Wants    Sensational    Reading-Matter — Obtains    the 
Opposite — Answer  by  the  Chaplain. 

At  the  Ohio  penitentiary  quite  a  good  library  is  main- 
tained for  the  benefit  of  prisoners,  under  the  supervision 
of  the  chaplain.  While  I  was  serving  in  that  capacity,  the 
library  was  thoroughly  revised,  all  objectionable  matter 
cast  out,  and  a  complete  catalogue  provided.  Each  pris- 
oner is  furnished  -with  a  catalogue  of  the  library,  which 
also  contains  rules  for  its  government.  AVith  it  are  fur- 
nished blank  orders,  on  which  may  be  drawn  weekly  such 
books  as  suit  best  the  wants  of  prisoners. 

Soon  after  this  revision,  quite  a  numlier  of  amusing  and 
suggestive  notes  accompanied  the  orders,  one  of  which  was 
as  follows : 

Chaplain:  2.  F.  34 

Please  send  me  a  book  wherein  the  sage 
Commits  a  murder  on  every  page, 
And  where  the  suicides  are  dispersed 
Throughout  the  book  in  charming  verse. 
If  any  such  are  in  your  possession. 
Pray  send  me  one,  or  make  confession 
That  it  is  against  the  rule  of  the  institution 
To  make  of  such  books  further  distribution. 

Wilson. 

A  book  was  sent  him,  but  not  according  to  order,  and 
with  it  my  answer,  somewhat  after  the  fashion  of  his  or- 
der, namely: 

Sir:  2.  F.  34 

The  book  you  ask  is  against  our  rule. 
Though  it  you  used  in  other  school. 
Till,  ere  in  here,  enough  was  known 


Causes  and  Cures  115 

To  fix  your  fate  by  far  too  soon. 
I  therefore  send  you  other  verse, 
With  sincere  hope  you  '11  grow  no  worse, 
But  upward  rise  on  thoughts  sublime, 
And  with  good  sage  the  sun  outshine. 


IIG  The  Criminal  Classes 


XL. 

A  Pathetic  Scene  in  Arkansas  Penitentiary. 

Dime  Novel  Curse — A  Youug  Mau  of  Twenty-Three  Weeps  Bit- 
terly— Dies  of  a  Broken  Heart. 

In  the  penitentiary  at  Little  liock,  Arkansas,  a  young 
man,  twenty-three  years  old,  one  of  the  train  robbers  who 
was  sentenced  to  seventy  years'  imprisonment,  complained 
of  being  ill,  and  was  sent  to  the  hospital.  He  appeared  to 
be  suffering  from  no  disease,  but  liis  pulse  was  up  to  one 
hundred  and  forty.  His  heart  seemed  to  be  breaking  on 
account  of  the  severity  of  his  sentence.  Tears  fell  from  his 
eyes  as  he  thought  of  the  long  years  of  imprisonment  be- 
fore him.  His  mind  began  to  wander,  and,  in  his  ravings, 
he  quoted  sentences  from  the  pernicious  literature  which 
had  led  him  into  his  life  of  lawlessness. 

''Seizing  the  bridle-rein,"  cried  the  sufferer,  "he  sprang 
upon  his  antagonist's  horse  and  dashed  away."  "Halt !"  he 
exclaimed,  "drawing  a  revolver  and  leveling  it  at  the  head 
of  young  Horace."  "Slowly  and  sadly,"  he  continued,  in 
a  subdued  voice,  "they  left  the  church  and  walked  along 
the  well-worn  path  to  the  rude  grave  of  La^Tcnce.  Stand- 
ing near  the  stone,  placed  there  by  the  Indian,  Casper  and 
his  fair  companion" — 

Here  his  mutterings  became  inaudible,  and  his  voice 
died  away  in  a  groan.  Suddenly  he  raised  himself,  looked 
intently  toward  the  door,  and  sank  l)ack,  dead  of  a  broken 
heart. 


Causes  and  Cures  117 


XLI. 

A  Eesignation. 

A  PKisoxEK^  who  for  some  months  assisted  in  the  li- 
brary under  my  direction,  on  the  eve  of  his  departure  at 
the  expiration  of  his  term  handed  me  the  following : 

To  Our  Worthy  Chaplain. 

After  a  period  of  more  than  oue  year  devoted  to  faithful  service 
in  a  position  I  now  occupy,  having  sacrificed  personal  interests, 
alienated  myself  from  my  family  and  friends,  and  endured  priva- 
tion and  hardships  in  order  to  promote  the  public  good  and  se- 
cure to  my  fellow-man  an  increased  degree  of  safety  and  security 
in  the  enjoyment  of  his  earthly  possessions,  I  now  feel  justified 
in  tendering  my  final  resignation,  not  alone  as  a  faithful  librarian, 
but  as  an  inmate  of  the  institution,  wishing  to  ''step  down  and 
out"  in  the  fullest  sense  of  the  term. 

This  step  is  not  prematurely  taken  ;  for  from  the  first  I  was 
more  than  willing  to  decline  the  position,  but  the  influence  of 
others  outweighed  my  opposition,  and,  regardless  of  my  own  feel- 
ings on  the  subject.  I  was  forced  into  public  life.  But  private 
business  long  neglected  now  demands  my  personal  and  undivided 
attention,  and  for  these  reasons  I  beg  the  acceptance  of  my  resig- 
nation. 

In  retiring  from  public  service,  "through  your  kind  interces- 
sion," I  leave  an  unsullied  record,  and  am  consoled  with  the  knowl- 
edge that  the  duties  performed  by  me  have,  over  and  above  my  re- 
muneration, been  a  source  of  revenue  to  the  State. 

Hoping  that  my  successor  may  be  a  worthy  one,  and  that  the 
public  interests  will  not  suffer  in  his  hands,  I  have  the  honor 
to  be  Tour  humble  servant,  Oscar  N.  Dudley. 


118  The  Criminal  Classes 


XLII. 

The  Last  Greeting. 

This  was  handed  to  the  chaplain  at  the  time  of  expira- 
tion of  its  author's  time  : 

Adieu,  heavy  walls,  sad  realm  of  despair, 

Detached  isolation  of  sorrow  and  care ; 

In  thy  sequestered  bounds  these  seven  years  long 

1  've  been  plodding  and  toiling,  and  weaving  my  song ; 

But  now  ever  more  my  thralldom  is  past. 

And  swept  'neath  the  wave  by  oblivion's  blast. 

Oh,  welcome,  thrice  welcome  my  happy  release, 

When  waiting  and  lingering  forever  shall  cease ; 

I  '11  away  to  the  fields  where  the  cool  zephyrs  blow. 

And  hyacinths,  daisies,  and  daffodils  grow ; 

Once  more  on  my  brain  to  reimage  their  form 

As  the  sun  paints  his  beams  on  the  wings  of  the  storm. 

Though  naught  can  avail  to  restrain  the  glad  hour, 

When  once  I  caroled  in  my  Elysian  bower 

Where  the  deep-tangled  pinewood  o'erarched  the  bright  stream 

And  veiled  my  retreat  from  the  sun's  scorching  beam  ; 

On  that  landscape  serene  't  will  be  rapture  to  gaze 

And  review  the  bright  scenes  of  my  halcyon  days. 

I  '11  away  to  my  mother  ;  but,  ah.  I  'm  afraid 

That  down  in  the  churchyard  a  corpse  she  's  been  laid. 

If  so,  to  her  grave  I  will  straightway  repair. 

And  write  her  a  tribute  while  I  moan  in  desi)air. 

I  '11  go  to  my  brother  who  scoffs  at  my  name 

Because  his  escutcheon  I  've  tarnished  with  shame. 

His  pride  I  have  wounded  and  pierced  to  the  core  ; 

B)it  I  '11  go  and  try  woo  him  to  love  as  of  yore. 

I  '11  away  to  my  sister  that  lives  by  the  glade. 

Where  together  in  childhood  ofttimes  we  have  played. 

And  sti'ayed  through  the  wildwood  that  skirted  the  farm. 

Oi-  played  hide-and-go-seek  in  my  grandfather's  barn. 

Farewell,  my  companions,  who  with  me  have  shared 
The  toils  and  privations — alike  we  have  shared. 
Ah!  what  would  I  give  without  stint  or  compare 


Causes  and  Cures  119 


To  have  you  go  with  me,  my  freedom  to  share ; 
But  alas  and  alack !  with  time  and  the  tide, 
'T  is  the  fiat  of  heaven  that  man  must  abide. 
Be  constant  in  duties,  hopeful  and  brave, 
With  Christ  for  the  pilot,  go  battle  the  wave ; 
Labor  on,  journey  on,  though  in  anguish  and  grief, 
Till  a  beacon  from  heaven  shall  signal  relief. 

Farewell,  executives,  I  bid  you  adieu ; 

And  a  word  of  advice  I  '11  venture  to  you, 

Te.  whom  it  is  given  the  scepter  to  wield. 

Write  peace  on  your  banners  and  love  on  your  shield ; 

And  the  Father  who  sees  it  most  surely  will  heed 

Your  challenge  of  mercy,  and  perfect'  your  deed. 

Farewell !  oh,  farewell !  once  more  I  exclaim. 
Ere  I  'm  wafted  away  from  the  portals  of  shame 
To  my  ancestral  home  where  the  mountains  and  skies 
Keep  good-night,  and  blue  lines  in  the  distance  arise ; 
Then  'neath  the  green  turf  where  the  myrtle-tree  blows 
Let  my  bones  and  my  ashes  in  silence  repose. 

— Henry  Cole  (on  leaving  the  prison). 


120  The  Criminal  Classes 


XLIII. 
A  Poor  Convict. 

(Written  by  a  prisoner  In  his  cell.) 

In  my  lonely  cell  I  'm  thinking 

And  of  melancholy  drinking, 

"Wrapped  in  deep  and  earnest  thought 

Of  temptation's  evils  wrought. 

A.S  I  sit  and  meditate 

On  my  sad  and  wretched  fate, 

Like  a  flash  my  mind  reverts 

To  a  fact  that  pains  and  hurts. 

Fills  my  heart  with  saddest  grief, 

Knowing  that  old  friends  are  deaf — 

To  my  pleadings  while  in  fetters, 

They  neglect  to  me  write  letters. 

Oh  !  hush,  heart,  and  cease  thy  weeping. 

Bright  thoughts  in  my  mind  are  creeping 

If  old  friends  decline  to  write, 

I^et  us  not  brood  o'er  the  slight ; 

If  they  know  the  joy  we  feel 

^Yhen  we  break  a  letter  seal. 

They  would  not  regard  our  fetters, 

But  send  often  cheering  letters. 


Causes  and  Cures  131 


XLIV. 

He  Has  Found  Something  Bettee  in  the  Holy  Bible, 
Which  is  Comforting  to  His  Sin-Sick  Soul, 

I  HAVE  recently  discovered  that  as  long  as  a  poor  out- 
cast and  convict  is  permitted  to  have  in  his  possession  a 
Bible  and  will  asft:  for  understanding  as  he  reads  the 
blessed  promises  from  the  One  who  gave  them,  he  will  find 
]3eace,  joy,  and  happiness.  If  he  accepts  this  friend  and 
forsakes  his  sins  words  cannot  describe  the  grea.tness  of  the 
change  from  sin  to  a  godly  life. — 31453, 


122  The  Criminal  Classes 


XLV. 
Power  of  Influence. 

Meditating  in  His  Cell — An  Insect  Gives  a  Lesson  in  Persever- 
ance— Overcomes — Will  Force. 

One  morning  I  received  a  note  from  a  prisoner,  say- 
ing: 

I  am  here  on  a  second  term.  I  now  feel  a  great  need  of  reforma- 
tion, and  have  decided  to  try  it.  Y.  P.  W.,  14321. 

"When  convenient,  I  sent  for  him.  In  an  interview  he 
said:  "On  last  Sunday,  while  in  my  cell,  I  was  thinking 
over  my  past  life  and  wondering  if  it  were  possible  for  me 
to  recover  myself  and  be  a  man,  after  having  gone  so  far 
in  sin  and  crime.  Just  then  my  attention  was  attracted 
to  a  small  insect,  with  long  legs,  and  a»body  about  the  size 
of  a  grain  of  wheat,  commonly  called  'granddaddy.'  I 
watched  it,  and  soon  discovered  that  it  aimed  for  a  crevice 
at  a  point  where  the  wall  and  ceiling  joined,  and  which 
could  only  be  reached  by  scaling  the  wall.  At  this  it  made 
an  attempt,  but  soon  fell  back  to  the  floor.  It  repeated  the 
attempt,  and  again  fell  back.  Again  and  again  it  re- 
peated its  efforts  to  gain  its  desired  seclusion.  Sometimes 
it  almost  reached  the  point,  then  fell  back.  Finally  the 
twenty-third  effort  proved  successful,  and  the  little 
creature  hied  away.  Then  I  said,  'If  this  insignificant  in- 
sect, whose  life  is  only  for  a  few  weeks  and  liable  to  be 
crushed  out  at  any  moment  will  make  such  a  determined 
effort  to  gain  its  point,  why  not  I?  If  it  can  surmount 
seemingly  insurmountable  difficulties,  wliy  may  not  I?'  T 
then  resolved  to  try.  and  said,  'By  the  help  of  God  I  can 
and  I  will  succeed.'  " 


Causes  and  Cures  123 

Prior  to  this,  prison  officials  were  almost  constantly  re- 
porting this  man  for  violating  prison  rules,  but  subsequent- 
ly his  record  stood  clear.  Soon  thereafter  he  made  a  public 
confession,  was  baptized,  and  became  a  regular  attendant 
at  the  special  religious  services.  Since  the  expiration  of 
his  term  and  his  discharge,  I  have  received  one  visit  from 
him,  and  have  repeatedly  heard  from  him.  Last  reports 
said  that  he  was  a  commercial  traveler  for  an  important 
firm,  and  faithful  to  his  vows. 

QUESTION. 

If  a  little  insect  can  unconsciously  exercise  so  much  in- 
fluence over  a  man,  what  may  not  man  do  for  man,  if  he 
will? 


134  The  Criminal  Classes 


XLVL 
Sources  of  Degeneracy. 

Abnormality  of  the  Race — Anomaly — Alarming  Tendency  Youth- 
ward — Proportion  of  Women  to  Men — Why  More  Men  Than 
Women  Criminals — Conventional  Ideas — Dr.  P.  Despine's 
Views — Conscience — Generous  Sentiments — Dr.  E.  C.  Wine's 
Observations. 

Philosophers  in  their  pride  of  knowledge  may  disdain 
and  stigmatize  as  an  offspring  of  theological  dogma  the 
statement  that  the  whole  race  has  lapsed  from  original 
righteousness,  and  that  in  this  particular  sense  the  soul  is 
in  an  abnormal  state.  It  is,  nevertheless,  a  fact  pro- 
claimed by  the  Word  of  God  and  demonstrated  on  every 
page  of  human  history. 

Isaac  Watts,  in  his  muse  on  man,  two  centuries  ago, 
only  voiced  in  rhyme  what  others  before  him  recognized 
as  truth,  namely, 

"Sprung  from  the  man  whose  guilty  fall 
Corrupts  his  race  and  taints  us  all." 

To  this  al)normal  state  may  be  traced  the  prime  cau.<(,' 
of  criminal  life.  In  this  book,  however,  when  the 
term  "abnormal"  is  used  it  must  not  be  understood  as  hav- 
ing reference  to  the  lapsed  state  of  man  from  original 
purity,  Imt  rather  that  of  an  anomaly,  or  exception  to  the 
rule. 

Crime  is  largely  the  outgrowth  of  vicious  social  influ- 
ences. The  history  of  criminals  shows  that  some  come 
from  most  excellent  families;  also,  that  some  highly  re- 
spected and  honorable  citizens  have  had  criminal  ances- 


iP 

The  LotK-STEP. 


This  is  the  usual  mode  of  marching.    Tlie  above  illustration  sliows  a 
companj'  in  halting  attitude  for  marching. 


Causes  and  Cures  127 

tors.  There  is  an  alarming  tendency  of  crime  youthward. 
More  than  twenty  per  cent,  of  the  inmates  of  our  State 
prisons  are  boys  from  twenty  years  downward,  while  a 
large  per  cent,  are  between  twenty  and  thirty  years  of  age. 
According  to  Doctor  Christison,  in  his  book  entitled, 
"Crime  and  Criminals,"  published  in  1897,  the  propor- 
tion of  criminal  women  to  criminal  men  is,  in  France, 
cne  woman  to  four  men;  in  England,  one  to  five;  and  in 
the  United  States,  one  to  twelve.  This  estimate  was  cer- 
tainly not  based  on  the  records  of  our  penitentiaries  alone, 
for  in  the  United  States  the  records  will  show  an  approxi- 
mate of  about  one  woman  to  forty-eight  men;  tliis  propor- 
tion, however,  gTeatly  changes  when  we  consult  the  records 
in  the  reformatories  for  the  younger  classes,  which  in  some 
cases  will  show  one  delinquent  girl  to  three  delinquent 
boys. 

Why  the  proportion  of  women  to  men  in  our  penal  in- 
stitutions is  so  small,  is  a  problem  not  easily  solved.  I  sub- 
mit. Is  it  because  courts  of  justice  exercise  more  mercy 
and  greater  leniency  toward  women,  or  are  the  women  less 
inclined  to  criminal  acts?  Statistics,  in  part,  seem  to 
throw  some  light  on  this  problem.  The  indication  is  "that 
as  woman  encroaches  upon  man's  sphere  she  becomes  more 
liable  to  criminal  acts.  In  the  Baltic  provinces  of  Russia, 
where  women  commonly  share  the  occupations  of  men, 
their  delinquencies  are  particularly  numerous,  whereas  in 
Spain,  where  women  are  much  more  domestic,  crime  is 
very  small." — Doctor  Christison. 

There  obtains,  however,  a  conventional  idea  which  finds 
recognition  in  all  avenUes  of  society,  the  support  of  some 
scientists  and  religionists,  and  which  is  the  foundation  of 
the  criminal's  apology  for  his  conduct  and  his  reasonings 
against  efforts  to  reform.  It  finds  vent  in  expressions  like 
these,  "It  is  constitutional  with  him,"  "It  is  inherent;  he 


128  21ie  Criminal  Classes 

was  born  so."  While  1  readily  grant  that  there  are  among 
criminals  some  whose  criminal  propensities  are  traceable 
to  inherent  causes,  I  cannot  admit  that  this  is  universally 
so,  or  that  the  majority  of  criminals  are  such  because  of 
inherent  propensities. 

Dr.  E.  C.  Wine,  in  "State  of  Prisons,"  pages  642  and 
643,  quotes  freely  Dr.  P.  Despine,  an  eminent  physician 
and  philosopher  of  France.  From  these  quotations,  as 
Avorthy  of  consideration  and  directly  to  the  point,  we  ex- 
tract the  following : 

"Although  many  criminals  are  as  scantily  endowed  with 
intellectual  as  with  moral  faculties,  it  is  not  the  lack  of 
intelligence  which  is  the  distinctive  character  of  these  dan- 
gerous beings,  for  there  are  among  them  persons  of  great 
intelligence,  capable  of  forming  ingenious  combinations 
which  are  the  product,  necessarily,  of  strong,  reflective 
faculties.     .     .     . 

"In  studying  criminals,  the  first  thing  which  strikes  us, 
and  which  is  obvious  to  all,  is  the  perversity  of  criminal 
thoughts  and  desires,  inspired  by  the  evil  inclinations  and 
vices  inherent  in  mankind,  but  uiore  emphasized  in  crim- 
inals than  other  men.  It  is  violent  passion,  hate,  revenge, 
jealousy,  envy ;  it  is  also  other  passions  which,  without  be- 
ing violent,  are  no  less  tenacious  in  criminals,  such  as  cu- 
piditv,  the  love  of  pleasure,  profound  repugnance  to  a  reg- 
ular life,  and  an  intense  dislike  of  labor.  It  is  these  last 
two  mentioned  vices,  especially,  that  impel  criminals  to 
seek  the  means  of  satisfying  the  material  wants  of  life  and 
the  enjoyment  which  they  crave,  not  in  honest  toil,  but  in 
readier  ways  which  are  immoral  and  hateful — in  theft, 
arson,  and  murder.  These  qualities  are  manifest  in  crim- 
inals to  the  eyes  of  all.  But  these  malign  passions,  these 
immoral  propensities  and  desires  do  not  really  constitute 
an  abnormal  psychical  state ;  and  the  proof  is  that  these 


Causes  and  Cures  129 

evil  tendencies,  wicked  passions,  and  perverse  and  crim- 
inal desires  make  themselves  felt  in  the  soul  of  the  most 
upright  man  without  his  ceasing  to  conduct  himself  in  a 
virtuous  manner,  for  the  reason  that  he  wages  a  successful 
warfare  against  them.     .     .     . 

"In  these  moral  conflicts  appear,  according  to  the  more 
or  less  perfect  moral  nature  of  the  man  morally  consti- 
tuted, three  orders  of  good  sentiments  antagonistic  to  the 
commission  of  criminal  acts,  namely: 

"1.  Sentiments  which  are  developed  and  exert  their 
force  on  the  selfish  side;  that  is  to  say,  the  moral  senti- 
ments which  prompt  to  virtue  and  witlihold  from  vice 
through  a  well-understood  and  well-considered  personal  in- 
terest.    .     .     . 

"2.  The  generous  sentiments,  such  as  sympathy,  kind- 
ness, benevolence,  and  the  like,  which  cause  us  to  act  char- 
itably toward  our  fellows  under  the  promptings  of  a  lov- 
ing nature  and  with  a  view  to  the  contentment  of  the  sen- 
timents of  generosity  and  magnanimity  with  which  the 
Creator  has  endowed  us. 

"3.  The  conscience,  the  moral  sense,  the  sentiment  of 
right  and  wrong,  accompanied  by  a  feeling  of  obligation 
to  do  what  is  right,  .  .  .  because  it  is  right,  and  ab- 
stain from  what  is  wrong,     .     ,     .     because  it  is  wrong." 

On  causes  of  crime,  Mr.  Eichard  Vaux,  a  careful  stu- 
dent of  the  subject,  has  said :  ''Among  the  causes  of  crime 
are  heredity;  the  taint  in  parents;  the  impression  on  the 
character  of  the  offspring  from  the  relations  and  evil  in- 
fluences of  domestic  example  and  congenital  abuses;  the 
expression  of  selfishness,  greed;  false  estimates  of  right 
and  wrong;  effect  of  parental  contention,  which  impairs 
home  influences,  especially  the  watchfulness  over  chil- 
dren ;  weakness  in  popular  support  of  the  enforcement  of 
laws;  procrastination  in  the  administration  of  justice;  the 


130  The  Cnminal  Classes 

opiniou  that  license  is  liberty,  and  freedom,  iingoverned 
will." 

In  an  article  by  Dr.  E.  C.  Wines,  published  more  than  a 
quarter  of  a  centur}''  ago,  he  gave  the  following  list  of 
sources  of  crime,  commenting  on  each  in  turn:  Grog- 
shops, brothels,  theaters,  gambling-houses,  bad  books,  or- 
phanage, insanity,  ignorance,  want  of  a  trade  or  profession, 
poverty,  foreign  immigration,  density  of  population,  and 
innate  depravity. 

:\Ir.  F.  H.  Wines,  of  Illinois,  has  said :  "I  think  that,  in 
discussing  the  causes  of  misfortune  and  crime,  the  fact  is 
often  overlooked  that  these  causes  lie  much  deeper  than 
anything  which  we  are  able  to  see.  They  are  found  away 
back  in  the  origin  and  in  the  history  of  our  race.  The  ul- 
timate causes  of  ignorance,  idleness,  disease,  poverty,  and 
crime  reside  in  the  constitution  of  human  nature  and  of 
human  society,  and  in  the  relations  which  exist  between 
humanity  and  its  divine  Creator  and  Father,  Almighty 
God.  If  we  study  the  constitution  of  human  nature  and 
its  relation  to  the  physical  conditions  of  life,  we  discover 
cne  distinct  group  of  causes  of  the  evils  which  we  deplore ; 
if  we  turn  our  attention  to  the  constitution  of  society, 
there  we  discover  a  second  group  of  causes ;  and  if  we  con- 
cern ourselves  with  questions  of  moral  and  religious  l)elief 
and  practice  in  any  given  age  or  country,  we  find  still  a 
third  group  of  causes." 

I  am  aware  that  an  attempt  to  trace  from  effect  to  cause 
may,  in  many  cases,  lead  to  un solvable  mysteries  and  re- 
veal almost  innumerable  causes.  ISTotwithstanding  tliese 
threatened  mysteries,  there  are  evidently  some  specific 
causes  which  deserve,  aye,  demand  mention,  and  to  which 
a  few  of  the  following  pages  are  dedicated. 


Causes  and  Cures  131 


XLYII. 
Innate  and  Psychological  Causes. 

Margaret,  the  Mother  of  Criminals — Thought  Impressions  Upon 
Fecundating  Fluid  and  Fetus — Constitutional  Flaws  Fos- 
tered by  Environments — Moral  Paresis. 

Evidently  there  is  same  abnormal  moral  condition  in 
one  who  jdelds  to  do  that  which  excites  the  strongest  re- 
pugnance of  others  whose  social  environments  are  equal. 
That  there  are  inherent  tendencies  to  criminal  life  in  some 
persons  is  a  fact  well  evidenced  in  criminal  history.  On 
this  Dr.  E.  Harris  is  credited  with  the  following,  pertain- 
ing to  "Margaret,  the  mother  of  criminals,"  and  her  off- 
spring : 

"The  county  records  show  that  two  hundred  of  her  de- 
scendants were  criminals.  In  one  generation  of  her  un- 
happy line  there  were  twenty  children,  of  whom  seventeen 
lived  to  maturity.  Nine  served  terms  aggregating  fifty 
years  in  the  State  prisons  for  high  crimes,  and  all  the 
others  were  frequent  inmates  of  jails  and  almshouses.  It 
is  said  of  the  six  hundred  and  twenty-three  descendants  of 
this  outcast  girl,  two  hundred  committed  crimes  which 
brought  them  upon  the  court  records,  and  most  of  the 
others  were  idiots,  drunkards,  lunatics,  paupers,  or  prosti- 
tutes. The  cost  to  the  county  of  this  race  of  criminals  and 
paupers  is  estimated  at  one  hundred  thousand  dollars." 

There  is  a  theory  which  seems  plausible;  namely,  that 
the  thoughts,  desires,  and  impulses  of  the  father  may 
make  impressions  upon  certain  cells  of  fecundating  fluid, 
prior  to  the  conception  of  a  child,  and  that  the  thoughts, 
desires,  and  impulses  of  the  mother  may  make  impressions 


133  The  Criminal  Classes 

upon  the  fetus  of  the  child  prior  to  its  birth,  and  that  seeds 
thus  sown  subsequently  become  factors  for  good  or  bad. 
If  factors  of  crime,  they  will  assert  themselves  in  some 
form  from  the  embriotic  flaw  to  midlife  tumors  of  crime 
and  shame. 

"Like  genders  like ;  potatoes  tatoes  breed ; 
Uncourtly  cabbage  springs  from  cabbage  seed." 

Doctor  Christison  says :  "Facts  suggest  that  there  is  an 
inwoven  fiber  of  instability  in  tlie  nervous  organizations  of 
those  we  cannot  regard  as  exactly  diseased,  nor  as  exactly 
normal,  a  subtle  constitutional  flaw  which  artificial  envir- 
onments have  fostered." 

He  declares  "conscience"  to  be  the  product  of  cosmic 
impressions  and  experience,  a  monitor  assured  to  all  who 
heed  it^  impulses,  and  which  becomes  either  dull  or  dis- 
tinct according  to  environments,  precepts,  and  example. 

Among  criminals  I  have  known  some  who  could  recite 
their  careers  of  robbery  and  murder  with  the  manifest  sat- 
isfaction of  sportsmen  detailing  the  chase  and  capture  of 
game.  In  them  not  a  sign  of  conscience-life  was  discover- 
able, though  when  tested  in  other  directions  the  brain  tis- 
sues proved  to  be  normal.  Eegarding  moral  conduct,  in 
this  class  there  seem  to  be  indications  of  a  broken  or  miss- 
ing link  between  the  brain  tissues  and  the  moral  monitor. 
I  have  therefore  concluded  that  such  may  be  properly  des- 
ignated moral  idiots.     Technically  this  is  called, 


"MORAL  PARESIS  OR  PALSY. 

It  is  simply  an  abnormal  weakness.  In  this  class  of 
criminals  there  is  often  manifest  a  subtle  abnormality 
within,  which  stamps  the  countenance  and  the  demeanor 
with  what  is  known  as  the  "delinquent  shadow,"  by  which 
the  discriminating  observer,  the  detective,  and  the  psychol- 


Causes  and  Cures  133 

ogist  readily  recognize  them.  With  this  class,  as  a  rule, 
there  is  not  so  much  that  lack  of  intelligence  which  with 
many  other  dangerous  beings  is  so  distinctive,  for  there  are 
many  of  them  quite  intelligent  and  capable. 

For  additional  to  this  chapter  tlie  reader  is  referred  to  Chapters  XVI. 
and  XLVI. 


134  The  Criminal  Classes 


XLVIII. 
Intemperance  a  Cause  of  Crime. 

Criminal   History — Statements   from   Officials   of   Prisons — Statis- 
tics— The  Dead  as  Witnesses. 

Intemperance  is  of  itself  a  cause  of  crime.  The  di-uuk- 
ard  is  guilt}^  of  crime  against  himself,  against  his  family, 
and  against  society.  The  drunkard-maker  is  his  accomplice. 
Intemperance  leads  to  the  commission  of  other  crimes 
— crimes  of  every  name,  crimes  of  every  grade.  Of  a  very 
large  per  cent,  of  the  convicted  criminals  it  might  be  writ- 
ten, Dissipation  wrecked  him ;  he  lost  his  natural  affection 
for  his  friends,  he  drifted  into  a  worthless,  vicious  life, 
and  therefore  fills  a  felon's  cell.  Criminal  history  in  the 
United  States  most  emphatically  confirms  the  charge  that 
intoxicants,  directly  or  indirectly,  are  influential  in  the 
commission  of  at  least  sixty  per  cent,  of  all  the  crimes  that 
are  perpetrated.  Of  the  3,480  persons  committed  to  the 
Ohio  penitentiary  between  November  15,  1880,  and  No- 
vember 15,  1885,  2,640  were  intemperate — a  fraction  over 
seventy-five  per  cent. 

A  few  years  ago  Doctor  Wines,  of  Illinois,  sent  out  to  all 
the  wardens  of  our  State  prisons  in  the  Tnited  States  a  cir- 
cular letter.  One  question  put  to  them  in  tlie  circular  was, 
"What  is  your  opinion  as  to  the  connection  between  strong 
drink  and  crime  ?"'  He  says :  "All  answers  returned 
pointed  in  the  one  direction  and  were  echoed,  in  general, 
by  ^Mr.  Pollard,  of  Vermont,  who  said,  'My  opinion  is  that 
if  all  intoxicants  were  to-day  eradicated  the  Vermont 
State  prison  would  l)e  large  enough  to  hold  all  the  crim- 
inals in  the  United  States.' " 


Causes  and  Cures  135 

It  has  been  reliably  stated  that  "of  3,000  convicted  crim- 
inals examined  by  a  French  medical  man,  M.  Marmabet, 
more  than  half  were  drunkards;  that  is,  seventy-nine  per 
cent,  of  the  vagabonds  and  mendicants,  fifty  per  cent,  of 
the  assassins,  fifty-seven  per  cent,  of  the  incendiaries,  and 
seventy-one  per  cent,  of  the  robbers.'' 

That  rum  is  the  chief  canse  of  crime,  and  that  many 
who  occupy  felons'  cells  but  for  its  power  would  be  honored 
and  valuable  members  of  society,  is  too  well  demonstrated 
and  recognized  to  call  forth  at  this  time  extended  official 
statistics  or  exhaustive  arguments.  But  if  to  that  which 
daily  records  furnish,  additional  testimony  is  demanded, 
call  back  the  departed  to  earth  again.  Break  the  turf  over 
the  moldering  bones  of  the  host  of  criminals  and  those  who 
have  suffered  at  their  hands;  let  them  shake  off  the  bone- 
dust  from  their  crumbling  forms  and  march  into  court  to 
witness.  Bring  up  from  the  slimy  ooze  of  our  rivers,  lakes, 
and  oceans  the  drowned  victims,  with  blue  and  livid  lips, 
and  let  them  testify.  Call  from  their  ashes  the  thousands 
dashed  into  eternity  by  the  wrecking  of  trains,  and  let 
them  tell  why.  Bring  down  from  the  gallows  the  rum- 
maddened  manslayer  to  grip  again  his  bloody  knife  and 
bear  witness.  Then  bid  the  unrelenting  past  break  its  seal 
of  silence,  and  push  back  upon  the  night  winds  the  shrieks 
and  groans  of  rum-criminal's  victims,  and  ask  the  record- 
ing angel  to  unroll  and  read  all  the  indictments  of  crimes 
written  by  him  against  them.  0  angel  of  God,  reveal  to 
men  how  from  this  flood  of  sin  the  world  mav  find  relief ! 


136  The  Criminal  Classes 


XLIX. 

Vile  axd  Sexsatioxal  Literature   Crime-Producing 

Agencies. 

Mind  Food — An  Assimilating  Reflexity— Hazlitt  Modified — Foul 
Leprosy  of  Modern  Times — Varieties  of  Forms — Anthony 
(,'omstock's  Statements — Cases  Cited — Evidences  Among  the 
Convicted. 

Hazlitt,  modified,  will  truthfully  say,  "Intellect  is  im- 
mortal, and  words  last  forever."  When  words  are  enter- 
tained, they  become  mind  food  and  form  character  after 
their  kind.  That  which  is  received  as  mind  food  to-day 
may  indicate  the  picture  of  the  receiver  to-morrow.  Here 
is  evidently 

AX  assimilating  reflexity. 

"Yon  gray  is  not  the  morning's  eye, 
'T  is  but  the  pale  reflex  of  Cynthia's  brow." 

The  many  atoms  in  creation  are  wonderful  in  construc- 
tion. Growth  of  vegetation  and  animal  life  are  mysteri- 
ously grand  in  their  perfections:  but  the  development  and 
influences  of  complex  man,  of  matter,  mind,  and  spirit  are 
supremely  wonderful  and  sublime. 

We  stand  in  awe  as  we  behold  the  engine  draw  its  great 
train  laden  with  luscious  fruits,  golden  grain,  and  the 
rich  products  of  mines  and  mechanism.  It  seems  to  have 
life;  aye,  it  seems  to  have  thought;  but  examination  proves 
it  to  be  lifeless  and  thoughtless.  True,  it  moves,  but  it  is 
propelled  by  abstract  power  anrl  is  directed  by  abstract 
ihonqht.     Man  moves.     Man,  however,  has  in  himself  a 


Causes  and  Cures  137 

force,  a  force  which  moves  the  engine,  and  a  force  by  which 
also  he  is  moved.  The  engine  moves ;  it  performs  its  offices, 
but  it  is  nnconscious  of  its  existence  and  the  power  by 
which  it  is  operated.  Man  moves,  he  performs  his  func- 
tions, is  conscious  of  his  existence  and  recognizes  his  in- 
herent powers.    He  therefore  may  say  with  Dryden : 

"For  that  I  am  I  know, 
Because  I  think." 

Thought  underlies  material  organisms,  and  is  the  in- 
visible force  which  starts  the  material  machine,  propels 
and  directs  it  in  its  course. 

In  the  book  of  sages  it  is  written,  "Man  is  fearfully  and 
wonderfully  made,"  and  in  that  book  the  question  is 
raised, 

"what  is  man?'' 

A  recent  writer  has  answered,  "Man  is  a  double  creature ; 
the  spirit  man  rides  the  man  of  flesh."  In  an  attempt  to 
answer  the  question,  however,  I  much  prefer  to  say,  "Man 
is  a  triune  personality  of  matter,  mind,  and  spirit,  and 
that  in  God's  ideal  man  neither  of  these  component  parts 
rides  the  others,  but,  rather,  concurrently  they  perform 
their  respective  offices,  and  thus  fill  the  measure  meted  by 
Him  who  called  them  into  being. 

THE  MATERIAL  MAN. 

His  life  and  his  symmetrical  development  depend  upon 
the  utilization  of  adequate  portions  of  physical  food,  and 
the  recognition  and  observance  of  nature's  laws.  If  no 
food  be  taken,  death,  speedy  death,  is  inevitable.  If  food 
be  taken  in  over  quantities  or  insufficient  quantities,  or 
with  adulterations,  a  dwarf  results.  If  artificial  stimu- 
lants, narcotics,  or  poisons  be  taken,  or  if  vicious  habits 
be  formed  and  vile  practices  obtain,  the  beauty  will  soon 


138  'Tke  Criiuinal  Classes 

fade  and  the  vigor  soon  vanish.  Aye,  more,  by  assimila- 
tion the  organism  will  bear  unmistakable  photograpliic 
lines  of  demoralization.  These  lines,  too,  will  soon  be- 
come so  clearly  manifest  that  the  true  conduct  of  the  in- 
dividual may  be  known  without  a  verdict  from  expert  stu- 
dents of  physiology  and  psychology,  or  declarations  from 
those  particularly  versed  in  the  properties  of  intemperate 
and  vicious  habits.  Indeed,  the  life  history,  despite-  the 
lip  professions,  will  become  stamped  in  the  features  and 
traced  in  the  coimtenance. 

Mr.  Hillis,  in  his  recent  book,  "Plan's  Value  to  Society," 
fittingly  says:  ''The  body  is  a  show-window  advertising 
and  exhibiting  the  soul's  stock  of  goods.  God's  canvas  and 
nature's  handwriting  go  over  it.  Each  faculty  is  a  brush, 
and  with  it  reason  thinks  out  the  portrait."  Lord  Bacon 
has  said :  ''In  the  body  there  are  three  degrees  of  what  we 
receive  into  it,  namely:  (1)  Aliment — that  which  man's 
nature  can  perfectly  alter  and  overcome.  (2)  Medicine 
— that  which  is  partly  converted  by  nature,  and  partly 
converteth  nature.  (3)  Poison — that  which  Avorketh 
wholly  upon  nature,  without  nature  Ijeing  able  to  work  at 
all  upon  it." 

Wliat  is  true  in  the  above  particular  of  tlie  material  man 
is  equally  so  of  the  mental  man.  He  who  takes  no  mental 
food  must  be  a  mental  dwarf,  a  sim])leton,  a  person  of  va- 
cant glare,  in  whose  eye  not  one  star  of  mental  vivacity 
can  be  seen.  Such  a  one  must  be  subject  in  part  or  en- 
tirely to  the  mere  animal  proclivities,  which,  when  alone, 
tend  downward.  The  proper  development  of  mind  and 
the  formation  of  character  depend  npon  the  nature  of 

MIND  FOOD. 

As  is  our  mind  food,  so  will  our  tliinking  be ;  and  as  our 
thinking  is,  so  will  onr  lives  be.    Or,  to  put  it  in  another 


Causes  and  Cures  139 

form,   propositions   entertained   will   be   photographed   in 
subsequent  individual  life.    A  very  wise  man  has  written : 

"As  he  thinketh  in  his  heart,  so  is  he." 

If  our  thoughts  feed  on  elevating  things  we  cannot  fall ; 
no  rfiatter  what  may  be  our  surroundings.  Aye,  more,  if 
our  til  oughts  dwell  on  elevating  themes  we  shall  ascend. 

The  power  to  think  is  inherent.  The  exercise  of  that 
power  is  voluntary.  It  is  therefore  inseparably  connected 
with  will,  and  to  be  effective  must  be  directed  by  it.  Directed 
by  the  will,  the  mind  grasps,  holds  on  to,  orderly  and  ear- 
nestly ponders,  and  revolves  a  submitted  idea,  or  proposi- 
tion, until  for  reasons  it  be  rejected,  or  entertained  with 
the  affections  clinging  thereto,  and  if  thus  entertained,  so 
thoroughly  digested  and  assimilated  as  to  become  a  part  of 
one's  self. 

The  proper  development  of  intelligent  beings  calls  for 
the  constant  action  of  the  will,  which  is  the  executive  force 
of  the  several  faculty  forces  with  which  lieings  are  en- 
dowed. 

The  will,  as  the  executive  of  these  several  forces,  sits  in 
the  seat  of  authority,  governing  thought,  courage,  resolu- 
tion, and  action.  Eecognizing  this  truth,  Paul,  the  apos- 
tle, wrote,  "Finally,  .  .  .  whatsoever  things  are  true, 
whatsoever  things  are  honest,  whatsoever  things  are  just,, 
whatsoever  things  are  pure,  whatsoever  things  are  lovely, 
whatsoever  things  are  of  good  report;  if  there  be  any  vir- 
tue, and  if  there  l)e  any  praise,  think  on  these  things." 
Thinking  is  thought  in  action ;  it  is  the  mental  recogni- 
tion of  ideas,  themes,  and  propositions,  and  the  revolving 
them  in  the  mind.  Thinking  is  essential  to  knowledge,, 
and  knowledge  is  essential  to  piety. 

These  propositions  and  ideas  are  submitted  through  per- 
sonal associations  and  by  signs  and  words  spoken  or  writ- 
ten.    That  which  neither  feeds  the  mind  nor  purifies  the 


140  The  Criminal  Classes 

heart,  but  rather  intoxicates  the  mind,  corrupts  and  nar- 
cotizes the  heart,  is  certainly  objectionable,  aye,  dangerous. 

The  questions,  therefore,  of  admissible  reading-matter 
and  of  associations  are  indeed  questions  of  grave  impor- 
tance. The  note  of  alarm  should  be  sounded.  Infectious 
matter  should  be  avoided.  The  fact  that  crime  is  not  only 
inherent,  but  contagious,  should  be  emphasized. 

That  boy  who  feeds  upon  dime  novels,  Police  Gazettes, 
and  the  sensational  reports  of  criminal  adventure  is  him- 
self on  the  road  to  crime  and  prison.  That  girl  who  is 
crazed  for  exciting  love  stories,  mysterious  correspondence, 
and  strange  pictures  is  boarding  a  fast  train  to  shame  and 
crime.  These  agencies  are  sent  out  in  almost  every  possi- 
ble foi'm,  and  in  varieties  from  those  causing  the  first 
blushings  of  misdirected  affection  to  the  excesses  of  shame- 
less lust  and  murder.  Their  names  are  legion.  Equally 
pernicious  are  many  of  the  exaggerated  and  highly-colored 
details  of  crime  as  published  in  the  secular  press.  There 
also  are  to  be  seen  crime-])roducing  agencies  in  the  form 
of  personal  attacks,  insinuations  on  and  unmitigated  slan- 
der of  public  men. 

Mrs.  Marie  B.  Williams  has  well  said:  "Crime  litera- 
ture is  the  foul  leprosy  of  modern  times.  A  perverted 
taste  launches  it  on  the  market,  and  it  is  eagerly  bought, 
and  the  poison  spread  through  the  multitudes." 

For  a  number  of  years  the  traffic  in  this  poison  has  been 
such  as  to  cause  alarm.  The  aim  has  been  at  the  boys  and 
girls.  An  appalling  amount  has  been  sold  to  women, 
while  thousands  of  persons  holding  respectable  places  in 
society  have  been  detected  as  purchasers.  Those  engaged 
in  the  traffic  have  taken  great  pains  to  gather  the  names 
of  boys  and  girls  attending  college  and  address  them  in 
ways  to  deceive,  till  finally  they  have  succeeded  in  very 
many  instances  in  ])lacing  in  their  hands  the  bane  of 
moral  life. 


Causes  and  Cures  141 

Anthony  Com  stock,  of  Xew  York,  who  for  many  years 
has  been  engaged  officially  in  the  suppression  of  vice,  gives 
some  startling  facts  in  his  reports  touching  this  evil.  In 
one  report  he  said :  "In  two  years  I  seized  13,000  pounds 
of  vile  books,  200,000  pounds  of  obscene  pictures,  130,000 
sheets  of  vile  songs,  and  arrested  160  rascals  engaged  in 
their  circulation/' 

In  a  later  report  he  said,  "During  the  past  year  I  have 
seized  27,564  pounds  of  objectionable  prints,  14,495 
pounds  of  plates,  and  ], 8 16,088  songs." 

Reports  of  recent  date  say  that  within  eleven  years 
there  were  captured  and  destroyed  thirty-five  tons  of  ob- 
scene matter. 

Does  the  reader  demand  the  proof  that  this  class  of  mat- 
ter tends  to  produce  criminals  ?  Then  I  refer  him  to  a  few 
of  the  many  cases  which  can  be  enumerated. 

Only  a  few  years  ago,  a  gentleman  of  national  distinc- 
tion, of  unquestioned  integrity,  admired  by  all  who  knew 
him,  was  called  as  a  witness  in  a  case  where  his  own 
daughter  was  on  trial  for  the  murder  of  her  husband.  In 
his  testimony  he  said :  "The  husband  of  my  daughter  was 
land,  honorable,  and  affectionate.  If  my  daughter  has 
been  in  an  unhappy  state  of  mind,  I  attribute  it  to  the  im- 
pure works  of  Eugene  Sue  and  Bulwer." 

In  one  of  our  cities,  in  less  than  three  months'  time, 
three  boys  were  convicted  of  crime  committed  in  imita- 
tion of  a  hero  of  a  novel.  Mr.  Comstock  reports  that  in 
ISTew  York  City,  within  a  period  of  seven  months,  there 
were  four  hundred  and  sixty-four  arrests  of  youths  for 
crime,  and  that  during  the  first  half  of  the  following  year 
there  were  four  hundred  and  thirty-four  boys  and  girls  ar- 
rested, and  twenty-one  committed  suicide.  He  expresses 
the  conviction  that  many  of  them  were  influenced  to  com- 
mit crime  by  vile  literature,  and  gives  utterance  to  the 


143  The  Criminal  Classes 

following:  "I  unhesitatingly  declare  that  there  is  at  pres- 
ent no  more  active  agent  employed  by  Satan  in  civilized 
communities  to  ruin  the  human  family  and  subject  the 
nations  to  himself  than  evil  reading.  .  .  .  Evil  influ- 
ences burn  themselves  in.  Vile  l^ooks  and  papers  are 
branding-irons  heated  in  the  fires  of  hell,  and  used  by 
Satan  to  sear  the  highest  life  of  the  soul." 

On  February  1,  1887,  the  marshal  of  Bucyrus,  Ohio, 
captured  part  of  a  band  of  boys  organized  under  the  name 
"Gang  of  Darkness,"  but  whom  the  reporter  calls  "Heroes 
of  Nickel  Libraries."  They  had  their  quarters  in  an  old 
building  near  that  city,  and  had  committed  quite  a  num- 
ber of  burglaries  and  robberies  in  that  vicinity.  Accom- 
panying the  account  of  their  arrest  is  the  following: 
"These  boys  have  all  been  greedy  readers  of  the  nickel  li- 
brary and  other  pernicious  literature,  which  enters  largely 
into  the  spirit  of  their  work." 

The  jSTew  York  Times,  some  months  ago,  satirically 
said:  "The  dime  novels.  .  .  are  grand  agencies  in 
developing  character.  In  the  department  of  murder  the 
instruction  given  is  all  that  could  be  asked.  There  is  not 
a  possible  method  of  murder  that  is  not  fully  described 
and  illustrated." 

One  day  five  new  arrivals  were  brought  into  the  Ohio 
penitentiary.  One  of  the  five  was  a  l)oy  of  about  fourteen 
summers,  who.  to  avoid  being  sent  to  the  Ueform  Farm, 
had  said  he  was  over  sixteen  years  of  age.  His  youthful 
appearance  and  prompt  answers  to  questions  excited  my 
sympathy,  and  I  became  anxious  to  know  whence  he  came. 
In  answer  to  inquiries  he  said:  "]\Iy  parents  live  in  In- 
diana on  a  farm ;  they  are  well  situated,  have  a  good  home, 
and  were  always  kind  to  me,  but  thev  did  not  provide  for 
niTich  reading-matter.  I  was  fond  of  rearling.  and  bought 
cheap  story-])n])ers  and  books.     One  was  an  exciting  ac- 


Causes  and  Cures  143 

count  of  some  boys  who  vrere  heroes  in  crime.  While  read- 
ing this  account  I  began  to  feel  like  becoming  such  a  hero. 
1  soon  ran  awa}'  from  home,  and,  in  company  with  others 
like  myself,  began  to  pilfer  and  break  open  houses.  1  was 
caught  in  Hamilton,  Ohio,  and  cun  here  as  a  result." 

Another  bright  and  beautiful  boy  of  about  sixteen  years 
said :  "Without  the  knowledge  of  my  parents,  I  left  my 
home  in  England,  worked  my  way  on  a  vessel  to  America. 
My  parents  do  not  know  where  I  am ;  I  do  not  want  them 
to  know.'*'  I  asked  him  to  give  me  the  address  of  his 
parents,  that  I  might  write  to  them,  but  he  repeatedly  re- 
fused. Xot  until  he  was  taken  to  the  hospital,  sick,  could 
I  prevail  on  him  to  give  me  the  address  of  his  parents. 
Finally,  he  gave  me  the  name  and  address  of  his  mother 
and  expressed  a  willingness  for  me  to  write  to  her.  This 
I  did,  and  I  soon  received  a  reply.  The  mother's  letter 
bore  marks  of  intelligence  and  a  Christian  heart.  She  Ije- 
wailed  the  sad  condition  of  her  boy.  She  attributed  the 
cause  to  his  having  read  sensational  stories  and  associated 
with  others  under  that  influence. 

E\'idences  of  the  pernicious  tendencies  of  sensational 
literature  are  clearly  marked  in  the  conduct  of  many  pris- 
oners in  a  variety  of  forms,  Init  especially  in  their  eager- 
ness to  obtain  it.  Xext  to  pardons,  this  class  of  reading- 
matter  and  tobacco  are  the  principal  commodities  sought. 
The  particular  variety  in  demand  is  well  described  in  a 
book  order  given  in  chapter  thirty-nine. 


144  The  Criminal  Classes 


L. 

Igxorance  a  Source  of  Crime,  Educatiox  a 
Preventive. 

A  False  Hypothesis — View  from  Other  Standpoints — The  True 
Education — A  Chief  Object  of  Education — Superstition,  a 
Case — Statistical  Evidences — Foreign  Statistics — Personal  Ob- 
servations— Duties  of  State,  Church,  and  Individuals. 

Shakespeare  said, 

"Ignorance  is  the  curse  of  God, 
Knowledge  the  wing  with  which  we  fly  to  heaven." 

That  ignorance  is  a  source  of  crime,  and  that  a  proper  edu- 
cation tends  to  prevent  crime,  and  therefore  to  reduce  the 
criminal  population,  is  certainly  evidenced  by  indisput- 
able facts.  Dryden  reached  a  logical  conclusion  when  he 
AATote,  "Ignorant  of  guilt,  I  fear  not  shame."  When  I 
affirm  that  education  tends  to  prevent  crime,  I  am  not 
ignorant  of  the  fact  that  Mr.  Alison,  in  his  history  of 
Europe,  pronounces  such  a  statement  a  "fallacy,"  and 
that  Herbert  Spencer,  in  his  "Social  Statistics,"  and  ]\Tr. 
Buckle,  in  his  "History  of  Civilization,"  subsequently 
agree  with  him.  I  know  that  they  have  by  argument  tried 
to  disprove  the  doctrine  that  ignorance  is  a  source  of 
crime.  They  base  their  arguments  upon  the  hypothesis 
that  criminal  statistics  for  a  series  of  years  in  the  same 
country  remain  about  the  same,  proportionate  to  the  num- 
ber of  people,  and  unaffected  by  educational  or  moral  in- 
iluences.  The  argument  may  seem  quite  conclusive,  if 
rniisiflerefl  abstractly;  but  in  connection  with  other  facts 
llic  deductions  are  unsatisfactorv.     The  ararument  is  sim- 


Causes  and  Cures  145 

ply  this:  Because  Massachusetts  has  as  many  convicts  as 
Georgia  in  proportion  to  population,  therefore  education 
does  not  tend  to  prevent  crime. 

But  think  a  moment.  Other  considerations  must  enter 
into  this  count  in  order  to  reach  a  just  conclusion : 

1.  The  sentiments  of  the  people  may  change  in  regard 
to  what  constitutes  crime,  and  how  criminals  shall  be 
treated,  as  the  nation  grows  and  ascends  in  the  scale  of  civ- 
ilization. As  people  are  enlightened  and  brought  under 
the  influence  of  true  culture,  criminal  conduct  become>= 
more  intolerable,  the  lines  Ijetween  right  and  wrong 
axe  more  clearly  drawn,  and  the  machinery  for  the  detec- 
tion and  punishment  of  crime  is  more  effective.  If  an  ad- 
ministration under  a  good  state  of  culture  were  turned 
within  a  population  where  ignorance  predominates,  the 
criminal  population  would  doubtless  appear  greatly  in- 
creased. 

2.  A  difference  in  race,  a  difference  in  social  and  politi- 
cal positions,  may  exist  producing  different  results. 

I  would  not  aflfirm  that  education  is  an  antidote  for  all 
criminal  propensities,  or  that  ignorance  is  the  chief  cause 
of  crime.  ISTo,  I  know  from  personal  observation  that 
among  the  worst  criminals  are  some  well  educated :  they 
are  criminals  from  other  causes,  criminals  in  spite  of  both 
culture  and  moral  influences.  Then,  too,  some  criminals 
who  have  studied  the  sciences  and  graduated  in  the  clas- 
hes may  have  received  only  the  education  of  the  head. 
There  may  have  been  great  defects  in  the  methods  and 
character  of  the  educators.  The  true  education  touches 
both  the  intellectual  and  moral  faculties,  both  the  head 
rnd  heart.  If  this  be  true,  then  here  is  a  powerful  ar.sr^i- 
ment  in  favor  of  the  higher  education  under  the  control 
of  the  church. 

One  of  the  chief  objects  of  education  is  the  preparation 


146  The  Criminal  Classes 

of  individuals  for  social  combiuatioii  by  incuk-atiiig  the 
sacrifice  of  the  animal  proclivities  to  secure  a  higher  well- 
being  in  comrannit}'  life.  Crime  is  the  action  of  an  indi- 
\idual  against  the  objects  of  education;  it  attacks  tlie 
forms  of  social  life  and  asserts  the  right  to  persist  in  sav- 
age deeds.  Dr.  Harris  has  said:  "^lan  as  an  animal  is  a 
ravage;  as  civilized,  he  is  an  ethical  being  who  has  set  up 
within  himself  a  S3'stem  of  duties  and  obligations  which 
he  observes  at  the  expense  of  neglecting  the  impulses  of  his 
merely  animal  nature."  Aristotle  said:  "Man,  properly 
educated  and  trained,  is  the  best  of  animals,  but  if  unedu- 
cated he  becomes  the  worst  of  them." 

Criminal  acts  are  sometimes  the  result  of  superstition, 
the  belief  in  extraordinary  or  singular  events,  omens  and 
})rognostics.  Superstition  is  the  offspring  of  ignorance, 
and  therefore  ignorance  is  the  source  of  such  acts. 

During  my  official  connection  with  the  penal  and  re- 
formatory institutions  of  the  State  I  became  acquainted 
with  quite  a  number  who  were  influenced  by  siiperstitious 
ideas  to  commit  criminal  acts.  For  want  of  time  and 
space  I  shall  mention  but  one :  He  was  the  son  of  illiterate 
parents;  was  a  single  man,  aged  about  thirty  years,  of  ro- 
bust frame  and  apparently  in  good  health,  but  entirely  des- 
titute of  a  knowledge  of  letters.  He  had  spent  most  of  his 
time  on  the  farm  of  his  father.  He  believed  that  dreams 
f  re  omens  of  good  or  evil.  His  crime  was  the  murder  of 
his  father,  whom  he  cut  down  with  a  corn  knife,  and  he 
was  sentenced  to  the  Ohio  penitentiary  for  life.  His  onlv 
plea  of  defense  was  that  he  must  either  kill  his  father  or 
be  killed  by  his  father.  He  gave  as  his  reason  for  the  plea 
that  the  night  before  he  committed  the  crime  he  dreamed 
that  his  father  came  to  him  and  assaulted  him  with  mur- 
derous intent,  and  that  a  voice  said  to  liiiu,  ''You  must  de- 
lend  yourself."     Tie  interpi-cted   if  according  in  his  plea. 


Causes  and  Cures  147 

While  in  the  fiekl  cutting  corn  he  saw  his  aged  father  ap- 
proaching him  bearing  a  vessel  of  water  to  quench  his 
thirst,  and  without  hesitation,  as  he  approached  and  of- 
fered the  water,  he  cut  him  down.  He  frequently  said  to 
me  that  he  was  fully  convinced  that  he  would  have  been 
killed  had  he  not  killed  his  father. 

WHAT    STATISTICS    PROVE. 

At  the  international  congress  in  London,  some  years  aii'o. 
the  following  summary  of  statistics  from  the  United  States 
was  presented: 

1.  In  sixteen  southern  States,  two-thirds  of  all  the 
prisoners  were  illiterate. 

2.  In  the  other  States  more  than  one-third  were  so. 

3.  In  Xew  York,  out  of  a  population  of  942,242,  then 
enumerated,  there  were  62,238  unable  to  read  and  write. 
That  same  year  there  were  in  the  prisons  of  that  State 
51,466,  of  wiiom  19,160  were  illiterate. 

This  last  statement  shows  that,  of  the  ignorant,  one  in 
three  committed  crime,  while  of  those  who  could  read  and 
write  (one  beyond  that)  the  proportion  was  as  one  in 
twenty-seven. 

From  an  address  of  Wm.  T.  Harris,  LL.  D.,  before  the 
National  Conference  of  Charities,  at  Washington,  D.  C, 
in  1885,  I  gather  the  following : 

1.  Of  an  aggregate  prison  population  in  Xew  York  and 
Pennsylvania  of  12,T72,  thirty-three  per  cent,  were  very 
Ignorant,  and  over  sixty  per  cent,  were  below  the  standard 
for  common-school  education. 

2.  That  the  census  of  these  States  show  that  of  the 
entire  population  only  four  per  cent,  are  illiterate.  These 
statements  demonstrate  that  the  four  per  cent,  of  illiterates 
furnish  at  least  thirty-three  per  cent,  of  the  criminals, 
while  the  ninety-six  per  cent,  of  the  educated  population 


148  The  Criminal  Classes 

furnish  sixty-seven  per  cent,  of  the  criminals — twelve 
times  as  many  from  the  illiterate  as  from  the  same  num- 
ber who  are  educated.  To  state  it  in  another  form  is  to  say 
that  eight  illiterate  persons  furnish  as  many  criminals 
in  these  States  as  ninety-six  educated  persons. 

3.  In  the  central  northwestern  States,  including  Ohio, 
Indiana,  Illinois,  ■Michigan,  and  Wisconsin,  three  and  one- 
half  per  cent,  of  the  population  are  illiterate,  while  forty- 
six  per  cent,  of  the  prison  population  are  totally  illiterate, 
or  very  ignorant — thirteen  times  their  portion. 

4.  In  the  West  and  Pacific  sections,  three  per  cent,  of 
the  population  are  illiterate.  These  three  per  cent,  of  il- 
literates furnish  thirty-one  per  cent,  of  the  criminals,  or 
tenfold  their  quote. 

5.  In  three  southern  States,  Maryland,  Kentucky,  and 
South  Carolina,  of  2,400  prisoners  sixt\'  per  cent,  were 
totally  illiterate,  twenty-five  per  cent  very  deficient,  mak- 
ing a  total  of  eighty-five  per  cent,  totally  or  very  deficient. 
In  these  three  States  twenty-two  per  cent,  of  the  entire 
population  are  illiterate,  so  that  the  twenty-two  per  cent, 
cf  illiterates  furnish  at  least  sixtv  per  cent,  of  the  crim- 
inals.    (See  N".  C.  of  C.  85,  pp.  229-230.) 

Dr.  E.  D.  Mansfield,  in  his  report  to  the  Bureau  of 
Education,  said  :  "With  the  criminal  statistics  before  mo 
from  nearly  all  of  the  States,  I  reach  the  following  con- 
clusions: 1.  That  about  one-third  of  all  criminals  are 
totally  uneducated,  and  that  four-fifths  are  practically  un- 
educated. 2.  That  the  proportion  of  criminals  from  the 
illiterate  classes  is  at  least  tenfold  as  great  as  the  propor- 
tion from  those  having  some  education." 

Mr.  John  Eaton,  then  United  States  Commissioner  of 
Education,  in  a  circular  entitled  "Education  and  Crime," 
said :  "With  the  testimony  before  us  we  reach  the  fol- 
lowing conclusions:    1.     That  about  one-sixth  of  all  the 


Causes  and  Cures  149 

crime  in  the  country  is  committed  by  persons  wholly  il- 
literate. 2.  That  about  one-third  of  it  is  committed  by 
persons  practically  illiterate.  3.  That  the  proportion  of 
criminals  among  the  illiterate  is  about  ten  times  as  great 
as  among  those  who  have  been  instructed  in  the  elements 
of  common-school  education  or  beyond." 

Dr.  E.  C.  Wines,  who  is  the  best  of  authority  on  this  sub- 
ject, said:  "Taking  the  entire  mass  of  inmates  of  all 
classes  of  prisons  in  the  northern  and  western  States,  the 
proportion  of  those  wholly  illiterate  to  those  who  have  re- 
ceived a  moderate  degi'ee  of  education,  often  very  mod- 
erate indeed,  may  be  stated,  with  substantial  correctness, 
at  about  one-third.  In  the  southern  States  the  propor- 
tions are  about  reversed,  being  two-thirds  illiterate  to  one- 
third  partially  educated." 

Doctor  Wines  also  gives  the  following  on 

FOREIGN  STATISTICS. 

"Of  444,133  persons  arrested  in  France,  .  .  .  442,- 
194  were  reported  as  unable  to  read,  making  over  ninety- 
five  per  cent,  of  illiterates.  Of  the  illiterates  there  was 
one  arrest  for  each  forty-one  persons,  but  only  one  arrest 
for  9,291  persons  who  could  read."  He  further  states: 
"In  England,  out  of  157,223  committals  to  prisons,  53,256 
were  illiterate,  or  thirty-four  per  cent.  In  Switzerland  the 
average  of  criminals  unable  to  read  is  eighty-three  per 
cent.  In  Belgium  one-half  of  the  prison  population  is 
wholly  illiterate." 

PERSONAL    KNOWLEDGE. 

While  chaplain  of  the  Ohio  penitentiary,  reports  over 
my  signature  show  that  there  were  1,152  prisoners  re- 
ceived. In  my  office,  and  under  my  personal  direction,  the 
statistical  record  of  prisoners  pertaining  to  mental,  moral. 


150  The  Criminal  Clauses 

and  social  training  and  habits  was  taken.  I  was  careful 
to  secure  reliable  data  touching  the  relation  of  certain 
conditions  and  habits  to  crime,  among  which  was  illiter- 
acy. Of  the  1,152  received  there  were  of  those  who  could 
not  read  106;  who  could  read  some,  but  not  write,  133; 
who  could  read  and  write  some,  771;  who  had  common- 
school  education,  108;  who  had  high-school  education,  14; 
who  had  taken  full  or  partial  course  in  college,  20.  Of  the 
771  reported  who  could  read  and  write  some,  a  very  large 
per  cent,  were  unable  to  read  so  as  to  gatlier  important  in- 
formation from  what  they  might  be  induced  to  read;  nor 
Avere  they  able  to  write  so  as  to  correspond  satisfactorily 
with  friends. 

In  the  face  of  the  facts  presented  can  any  person  con- 
sistently claim  that  education  does  not  tend  to  prevent 
crime?  ♦Is  it  not  apparent  that,  for  the  development  of 
man  as  a  social  being,  the  protection  of  society,  the  per- 
inanency  and  safety  of  governments,  the  onward  march  of 
civilization,  and  the  final  triumph  of  truth,  man  should 
in  the  broadest  sense  be  educated?  If  so.  what  is  the  duty 
r.t  the  state,  of  the  church,  of  individuals  ? 


Causes  and  Cures  151 


LI. 

Conventional  Standards  for  Social  Life  May 
Prompt  to  Misdeeds. 

Ambition  to  Cope  with  Others — Living  Within  Legitimate  Income 
— Wives  Without  Estimate  and  Comparison  Involve  Hus- 
bands— The  Motto,  Live  Within  Your  Means. 

Ambition  to  attain  to  and  maintain  a  social  position, 
determined  by  a  kind  of  conventional  standard  of  exterior 
signs,  is  a  source  of  crime,  especially  in  America.  At  this 
altar  gradually  and  frequently  are  sacrificed  parental  hope, 
domestic  bliss,  and  flattering  business  relations.  While 
integrity  whispers.  Live  within  a  legitimate  income  and 
expect  social  recognition  on  the  higher  basis  of  loyalty  to 
righteousness,  this  ambition  cries,  Make  haste  to  enter 
the  circle  and  maintain  a  social  position  according  to  rule, 
at  all  hazards.  Blinded  by  vain  hopes,  and  too  often 
prompted  by  a  thoughtless  and  inconsiderate  but  aml)i- 
tious  wife,  without  estimate  of  cost  or  comparison  of  in- 
come, obligations  are  assumed,  risks  taken,  accounts  over- 
drawn, trust  funds  used,  and  the  overt  act  performed.  In 
quick  succession  follow  the  sensational  announcements, 
nervous  shocks,  broken  Inisiness  links,  criminal  arrests, 
and  man's  confidence  in  man  is  weakened.  For  convinc- 
ing evidence  on  this  point  the  skeptic  needs  only  to  read  the 
criminal  records  of  the  past  few  years,  or  interview  the 
several  clerks,  agents,  treasurers,  and  cashiers  now  en- 
vironed by  stone  walls  and  iron  bars. 

"Live  within  your  means"  is  a  good  motto  for  all.  Un- 
der it  as  a  caption  somebody  has  appropriately  written  : 


152  The  Criminal  Classes 

"When  the  man  with  moderate  income  endeavors  to  live  as 
expensively  as  a  man  of  wealth,  his  future  can  be  easily 
written;  a  little  enjoyment,  periods  of  anxiety,  burden- 
some debts,  a  desperate  struggle  to  keep  up  appearances, 
ultimate  bankruptcy,  and  a  red  flag  to  notify  the  neigh- 
bors that  the  sheriff  is  master  of  the  situation.  One-half 
the  dishonesty  of  the  present  age  springs  from  this  foolish 
practice  of  imitating  the  style  of  others.  The  man  of  a 
thousand  a  year  wants  to  live  equal  to  the  one  who  re- 
ceives five ;  he  in  turn  aspires  to  make  as  big  a  show  as  the 
one  who  receives  ten ;  and  the  receiver  of  ten  labors  to  keep 
])ace  with  the  one  who  counts  his  income  among  the  fifty 
thousands.  Is  it  any  wonder  that  so  many  fail  in  busi- 
ness? 

Life  is  altogether  too  short  to  destroy  its  enjoyments  by 
taxing  soul  and  body  to  keep  up  false  appearances.  Con- 
tentment comes  with  moderation ;  mental  suffering  and 
keen  anguish  with  extravagance.  To  the  young  man  ju-^t 
starting  in  life,  to  the  man  of  business  pursuing  success, 
to  the  office-holder  who  hopes  by  honorable  conduct  to 
merit  promotion  and  distinction,  to  all  who  labor  for  honor 
or  profit,  we  commend  the  motto  as  a  safe  and  sensible 
one,  and  one  that  will  pay  compound  interest  in  the  end. 
A  faithful  adherence  to  it  by  old  and  young,  rich  and 
poor,  will  restore  confidence  in  business  and  ofiicial  cir- 
cles, and  fill  tlie  land  with  ha])py  homes,  from  which  will 
emanate  a  spirit  of  purity  essential  to  the  maintenance  of 
public  virtue. 


Causes  and  Cures  153 


Lll. 

Criminal  Examples  axd  Associatioxs. 

Cri3»iixal  examples  and  associations  are  causes  of  crim- 
inal life.  Crime  is  not  only  inherent,  but  contagious.  Ed- 
ward Livingston  said,  "Vice  is  more  imfectious  than 
disease."  Children  are  both  observing  and  imitative. 
Man}^  innocent  and  promising  youth,  like  Longfellow's 
maiden, 

"Standing,   with   reluctant   feet. 
Where  the  brook  and  river  meet," 

are  turned  by  force  of  associations  and  counsels  into  the 
swift  stream  and  lost — lost  forever — in  the  whirlpool  of 
crime.  Numerous  examples  of  criminal  contagion  and 
confirmation  by  associations  might  be  cited  by  those  fa- 
miliar with  the  corrupting  influences  in  our  jails,  in- 
firmaries, and  not  infrequently  in  our  reformatories.  One 
who  is  good  authority  said,  "It  would  be  more  reasonable 
to  put  a  man  in  a  pest-house  to  cure  him  of  headache  than 
to  confine  young  offenders  with  confirmed  criminals  to  ef- 
fect reform." 

"Keep  good  company  or  none." 


154  The  Criminal  Classes 


LIII. 

UxBRiDLED  Passion  Leads  to  Crime. 

Anger  often  leads  to  criminal  conduct.  To  love  is  le- 
gitimate, but  love  out  of  bounds  leads  to  infatuation,  idol- 
atry, suicide,  and  homicide.  To  hate  is  legitimate,  but  that 
out  of  place  leads  to  anger,  malice,  insanity,  and  man- 
slaying.  One  improper  indulgence  of  a  passion  adds 
strength  to  it,  and  produces  moral  weakness  elsewhere. 
Anger  out  of  bounds,  like  a  tempest,  destroys  by  its  own 
velocity.  Most  of  the  life  prisoners  in  our  penitentiaries 
are  there  because  of  uncontrolled  passion. 

Every  life,  especially  every  young  life,  is  a  stream,  possi- 
bly some  "undiscovered  Niagara,  leaping  on  its  way  toward 
the  great  ocean  of  eternity."'  If  there  is  no  purpose  in 
that  life,  no  aim,  no  definite  determination,  no  self-control, 
tliat  life  must  not  only  be  a  failure,  but  a  wTcck.  But 
if  coupled  with  that  life  there  be  a  great  purpose,  a  steady 
aim,  self-possession,  and  self-control,  then  it  will  l)ecome  a 
power  for  good.  "Though  passion  be  hair-strained,  it  must 
not  break  over  bounds"  (Lincoln). 

A  man  of  even  temper  may  reverse  liimself  l)y  indulging 
in  fits  of  passion.  A  man  soon  augry  may.  by  self-control, 
soon  rise  above  his  natural  inclinations  and  possess  him- 
self in  patience.  It  is  possible  to  lose  or  gain  much  by  lit- 
tle. A  classic  case  is  that  of  the  royal  granary  which  was 
depleted  of  its  stores  by  a  succession  of  "one  rat  came  and 
took  one  grain  away,  aud  another  rat  came  and  took  an- 
other grain  away." 


Causes  mid   Cures  155 


LIV. 

Preventives  of,  and  Cures  for  Crime  and  Criminals. 

Cultivation  of  Public  Sentiment — General  Education^ — Suppres- 
sion of  Vile  Prints — Stay  Intoxicants — Provide  for  Better 
Care  of  Homeless  Children — Discipline  of  Prisoners. 

By  inference,  at  least,  some  of  the  antidotes  for  crime 
have  been  suggested  in  the  discussion  of  the  several 
causes  thereof,  among  Avhich  as  deserving  special  notice 
and  emphasis  are :  1 .  The  cultivation  of  public  sentiment 
in  favor  of  integrity.  2.  A  general  education,  under 
moral  and  religious  influences.  3.  The  suppression  of 
the  false  and  vile  prints.  To  this  end,  the  vividly  true  and 
pure  must  be  substituted  for  the  impure,  and  their 
more  liberal  circulation  maintained.  Also  by  civil  enact- 
ments and  their  enforcement  must  the  vile  be  suppressed. 
4.  The  suppression  of  the  manufacture  and  sale  of  intoxi- 
cants as  a  beverage.  5.  Both  the  church  and  state  should 
provide  for  the  better  care  of  homeless  children  and  those 
of  profligate  and  inebriate  parents. 

The  influences  and  discipline  within  prisons  may  l)e 
very  helpful  or  may  be  quite  the  contrary.  The  chief 
officer  of  a  prison,  to  do  his  part  in  this  respect  well, 
should  know  the  particular  moral  condition  of  those  com- 
mitted to  his  keeping,  and  personally,  as  Avell  as  through 
his  subordinates,  seek  to  overcome  every  evil  inclination 
manifest,  and  give  all  possible  aid  to  those  who  indicate 
a  sincere  purpose  of  reform.  The  most  perfect  finish  in 
prison  equipment  will  be  of  very  little  value  if  the  execu- 
tive department  be  in  incompetent  hands. 


156  The  Criminal  Classes 

Somebody  has  said:  ''In  the  army,  politics  have  some- 
times played  a  prominent  part  in  the  selection  of  officers 
and  those  in  command.  In  the  navy  this  is  not  possible, 
because  the  risk  to  men  and  ships  is  too  immense,  iVn 
error  in  judgment  on  the  sea,  either  in  battle  or  sailing, 
cannot  be  easily  overcome;  but  the  risks  attendant  on  and 
error  in  the  selection  of  a  chief  of  a  penal  institution  are 
even  greater,  for  unskillful  management  may  mean  disas- 
ter to  many  lives,  morally  and  physically." 

The  reformation  and  uplifting  of  the  incarcerated,  to 
a  very  great  extent,  depends  upon  the  moral  character 
and  general  fitness  of  those  in  charge  of  them.  Count 
Sollohub  well  said,  "There  is  a  contagion  of  good  as  well 
as  of  evil." 

Under  this  general  topic,  "Cures,"  there  are  some  agen- 
cies not  named  which  deserve  more  than  a  passing  refer- 
ence, and  which  I  would  particularly  emphasize  in  the  fol- 
lowing pages. 


Causes  and  Cures  157 


LV. 

Indeterminate  Sentences. 

No  Release  \yithout  Reformation — The  Administration  of  Law 
on  Scientific  Basis — Held  for  Protection  of  Society — Placed 
Under  Best  Reformatory  Influence — Opinion  of  C.  T.  Lewis, 
of  New  York  State  Prison  Association. 

Instead  of  the  limited,  we  should  have  the  indeterminate 
sentence,  with  the  provisions  for  parole,  pardon,  and  final 
discharge  only  upon  evidence  of  innocence  or  genuine 
reformation.  This  method  is  both  economical  and  benevo- 
lent. An  outlaw  who  is  determined  to  live  by  violence  and 
fraud  should  be  held  until  he  changes  that  purpose.  The 
State  should  no  more  turn  loose  upon  society  a  known 
criminal  than  it  should  release  from  an  asylum  a  lunatic. 
The  problem  of  criminal  reformation  and  the  administra- 
tion of  law  should  be  put  upon  the  same  scientific  basis 
as  that  of  insanity.  When  once  the  mark  of  Cain  is 
stamped  upon  an  individual,  or  he  is  by  criminal  conduct 
known  to  be  an  outlaw,  and  as  such  held  by  the  State,  he 
should,  for  the  protection  of  society  and  his  own  future 
weal,  be  detained  until  it  is  quite  evident  that  he  has 
fully  reformed. 

A  code  providing  for  indeterminate  sentence  should  also 
require  that  prisoners  be  placed  under  the  best  possible 
reformatory. influences.  On  this  subject  of  indeterminate 
sentence,  Charlton  T.  Lewis,  Ph.  D.,  President  Xew  York 
State  Prison  Association,  said : 

"The  only  satisfactory  principle  with  which  to  set  out 
in  the  study  of  the  problem  is  this :  It  is  the  duty  of  so- 
ciety to  protect  itself,  to  secure  civil  order  and  private 


158  The  Criminal  Classes 

rights,  and  to  extirpate  the  criminal  chiss.  Crime  must  be 
controlled  where  it  exists,  and  every  effort  must  be  made, 
f.rst  to  prevent  it,  and  then  to  destroy  it. 

"Prison  life  is  an  unnatural  life,  and  the  worst  prepa- 
ration for  a  place  in  society  and  among  men  is  to  cut  a  man 
off  from  human  associations.  But  one  justification  can  be 
offered  for  imprisoning  a  man,  and  that  is  that  it  is  not  safe 
for  society  that  he  be  at  large.  Let  this  be  established, 
and  he  should  unquestionahly  be  shut  up.  If  it  is  satis- 
factorily proved  that,  while  it  is  unsafe  to  leave  him  at 
liberty  to-day,  it  will  1)e  perfectly  safe  to-morrow,  or  next 
week,  or  next  year,  then  it  is  reasonable  to  sentence  him 
to  confinement  for  a  definite  term ;  but  if  he  is  so  unfit  for 
freedom  that  it  is  dangerous  to  the  rights  of  his  fellow- 
men  that  he  be  unrestrained  to-day,  only  omniscience  can 
forsee  when  that  unfitness  will  end.  'No  sentence  to  im- 
prisonment, therefore,  is  rational  unless  it  is  an  indeter- 
minate sentence ;  that  is  to  say,  a  sentence  to  confinement 
until  the  prisoner  has  proved  himself  fit  for  freedom." 


Causes  and  Cures  159 


LYI. 

Educatiox  a  Meaxs  of  Reformatiox. 

As  a  means  of  reformation  a  proper  education  of  pris- 
oners should  be  made  compulsory,  and  one  of  the  condi- 
tions of  release.  Touching  this,  Z.  B.  Brockwaj'  has 
littingiy  said:  "All  true  education  is  increase,  advance- 
ment of  the  soul :  and  soul-growth  is  ever  toward  its 
creator,  God.  The  prisoner's  mind  must  he  expanded.  In 
proportion  as  a  prisoner  is  educated,  during  his  imprison- 
ment, will  his  conduct,  when  relegated  to  common  life,  be 
changed.  It  is  by  education  in  this  sense  that  moral  train- 
ing is  best  begun;  it  is  the  natural  avenue  to  the  seat  of 
tlie  moral  emotions,  and  paves  the  way  for  those  super- 
human influences  that  are  believed  to  radically  change  the 
character." 

"While  serving  his  time  under  sentence,  a  man  writing 
for  the  Oliio  Penitentiary  News  said:  "Education  is  des- 
tined to  be  the  redeeming  force  of  the  future  prison  man- 
agement. It  will  be  the  power  that  ^\'ill  elevate  the  pris- 
oner's mind  to  higher  aims  in  this  life.  It  will  create  a 
better  understanding  of  what  the  true  aims  of  this  life 
should  be." 


160  The  Criminal  Classes 


LVII. 

Child-Saving  Institutions. 

As  agencies  in  the  prevention  of  crime  and  the  reforma- 
tion of  young  criminals,  too  much  importance  cannot 
well  be  attached  to  the  private  and  public  institutions  de- 
nominated ''Child-saving  institutions,"  "Schools  for  the 
little  ones,"  and  "Homes  for  children,"  in  which  the  little 
children  from  two  to  eight  years  of  age  nuiy  receive  both 
instruction  in  the  right  and  protection  from  the  wrong. 

Experience  has  demonstrated  that  the  best  means  of 
preventing  crime  and  improving  society  is  in  the  right 
training  of  children.  This  training  cannot  begin  too 
soon. 

The  celebrated  Protestant,  Oberlin,  in  Alsace  Lorraine, 
about  the  middle  of  the  eighteenth  century,  touched  with 
the  sad  condition  of  the  children  in  his  parish  who  were 
too  young  to  attend  school,  and  who  were  running  at  will, 
gathered  them  under  his  own  care  and  guarded  them  from 
evil  influences  without,  and  instructed  them  in  rules  of 
right.  "Then  and  there,"  said  Doctor  Wine,  "was  estab- 
lished the  first  infant  school  in  a  rural  population  ever 
known."  Xo  doubt  the  germ  of  the  kindergarten  is  here 
found. 

A  French  poet,  it  is  said,  in  imagination  pathetically 
described  the  origin  and  utility  of  such  child-saving 
schools.  TTo  in  his  stretch  of  imagination  sees.  "Among  the 
seraphim  who  forever  hvnni  the  glorv  of  Cod,  one  who 
sometimes  stood  aloof  from  Ihe  rest,  lost  in  thought,  his 
forehead  inclined  to  thi>  earth."  He  became  more  and 
more  pensive.     At  length,  kn<M>lin2:  before  the  Eternal,  he 


Causes  and  Cures  161 

said:  "When  thy  Son  Jesus  wept,  and  was  cold  in  the 
stable  of  Bethlehem,  my  smiles  consoled  him,  my  wings 
sheltered  him,  my  breath  warmed  him.  Since  then,  when- 
ever an  infant  cries,  its  voice  touches  my  heart,  and  for 
this  reason  I  am  in  continual  sorrow.  Suffer  me  to  de- 
scend to  earth;  there  are  so  many  little  ones  who,  shiver- 
ing with  cold,  mourn  far  away  from  tlie  breath  and  kisses 
of  their  mother.  I  long  to  shelter  them  in  warm  cham- 
bers ;  I  long  to  lay  them  in  cradles,  and  cover  thein  well ; 
I  long  to  be  their  nurse;  I  wish  that  they  all  may  have 
twenty  mothers,  who  will  rock  them  to  sleep,  after  having 
well  suckled  them."  The  angels  applauded  him.  Spread- 
ing his  wings  he  descended  rapid  as  the  lightning  and  in- 
fant nurseries  were  opened  wherever  the  angel  of  the  little 
children  passed. 

These  private  and  public  "child-saving  institutions"  are 
doing  much  good,  but  not  all  that  they  might,  nor  all  they 
should.  By  far  too  many  of  them  are  mere  places  of  de- 
tention, only  prisons,  prisons  in  charge  of  political  parti- 
sans who  were  placed  in  charge,  most  likely,  because  of 
party  service  rather  than  fitness  for  such  important  work. 
They  seem  able,  however,  to  detain  those  committed  to 
them  until  they  reach  the  age  when  by  statutory  provis- 
ions they  must  be  discharged.  They  are  then  able  to  in- 
form them  that  they  are  free,  and  may  go  out,  possibly 
back  to  their  inebriate  or  profligate  parents,  or  to  former 
associations  with  deleterious  influences,  and  that,  too,  with 
a  meager  outfit  of  clothing. 

To  prevent  delinquent  children  from  becoming  crimi- 
nals, our  institutions  for  them  must  be  controlled  bv  those 
who  possess  the  elements  of  reform,  and  who  will  strive  to 
cultivate  the  moral  nature  of  those  committed  to  them ; 
and  better  provisions  must  be  made  for  homing  and  pro- 
tecting those  discharged  therefrom. 


163  The  Criminal  Classes 


LVIII. 

Moral  axd  Religious  Efforts. 

]MoRAL  and  religious  instruction  and  example  are  power- 
ful agencies  in  the  work  of  reform.  Such  instruction  has 
often  proved  a  ready  antidote  against  criminal  thoughts, 
criminal  propensities,  and  criminal  character. 

In  an  annual  report  of  the  hoard  of  managers  of  the 
Ohio  penitentiary  they  speak  of  gratifying  results  in  re- 
formatory and  moral  training  of  the  convicts  under  the 
immediate  care  and  instruction  of  the  chaplain,  and  say: 
"Abundant  evidence  is  not  wanting  that  permanent  good 
is  being  accomplished  daily  for  these  unfortunate  men,  as 
seen  in  the  constantly  decreasing  offense  list  and  in  the 
cheerfulness  and  improved  discipline  of  the  prisoners." 

At  the  same  time  in  his  own  report  the  chaplain  devotes 
some  spaee  to  the  important  topic  of  reforming  the  pris- 
oners, and  gives  a  numl^er  of  instances  where  men  have  led 
honest  and  industrious  lives  after  their  discharge. 

In  addition  thereto  he  said  :  "Of  those  who  could  neither 
read  nor  write  on  entrance,  about  fiftv  have  learned  to  read 
withiu  the  past  year,  and  nearly  as  many  learned  to  write 
respectably ;  a  numl>er  have  systematically  studied  mathe- 
matics, geography,  grammar,  and  history,  and  a  few 
science." 

TTnrlcr  the  loiiic.  "Religion  in  Prison."  are  cli]ipod  the 
following: 

"Prisoners  uchhI  a  constant  stinnilns  io  good  behavior, 
the  daily  presence  of  a  motive  to  do  right  gradually  trans- 
forming itself  into  a  habit  of  doino:  ricrbt.  Such  a  motive 
must  be  sn])])lied   iind   reinforced   liy   moral   ;ind   religious 


Causes  and  Cures  163 

teaching.  Xo  mechanism,  however  perfect,  can  take  the 
place  of  the  divine  work  in  regenerating  the  heart  and  re- 
forming the  life  of  sinful  men." — F.  B.  Sanborn. 

"To  reform  prisoners,  or  to  make  them  better  as  to  their 
morals,  slionld  l)e  the  leading  view  in  every  house  of  cor- 
rection, and  their  earnings  should  onl}^  be  a  secondary  ob- 
ject. We  owe  this  to  them  as  rational  and  immortal  be- 
ings, nor  can  any  criminality  of  theirs  justify  our  neglect 
in  this  particular." — John  Howard. 

'"Prison  reform,  as  now  understood  in  the  world,  is  the 
outgrowth  of  Christianity,  as  certainly  as  the  oak  is  the 
outgrowth  of  an  acorn;  and  all  future  growth  and  prog- 
ress must  be  rooted  in  the  teachings  of  the  Divine  ISTaza- 
rene." — Rutherford  B.  Hayes. 


164  The  Criminal  Classes 


LIX. 

Special  Religious  Service. 

Personal  Experience  and  Observations  in  Direct  Religious   EflEort 
with  the  Incarcerated. 

While  chaplain,  each  day,  when  the  men  were  seated 
in  the  dining-hall  for  dinner,  a  short  prayer  was  offered 
which  doubtless  served  to  elevate  the  thoughts  and  inspire 
a  degree  of  gratitxide  and  reverence  due  to  the  Giver  of  all 
good.  I  devoted  some  time  Sabbath  afternoons  to  visiting 
the  men  in  their  cells,  and  conversing  with  them.  By  this 
method  I  not  only  became  personally  acquainted  Avith 
them,  but  learned  from  them  something  of  their  past  his- 
tory and  present  state  of  mind,  without  which  one  must 
labor  for  their  reformation  at  disadvantage.  I  also  aimed 
to  visit  the  hospital  every  alternate  day  and  seek  to  ad- 
minister consolation  to  the  afflicted.  In  these  personal  in- 
terviews with  the  men,  my  own  heart  has  been  wonder- 
fully moved  with  pity  and  sympathy  for  them,  and  espe- 
cially for  the  young  men. 

As  I  have  thus  alone  with  them  pointed  out  the  better 
paths  of  life,  and  told  them  of  Jesus  and  his  love,  T  have 
witnessed  tears  of  deep  contrition,  pledges  of  reformation, 
and  evidence  of  saving  faith  in  the  "I^amb  of  God  that 
taketh  away  the  sin  of  the  world."  In  a  few  instances  I 
have  watched  over  the  dying,  and  in  the  absence  of  loved 
ones  heard  their  last  faint  whispers  of  prayer,  and  received 
from  lips,  alreadv  cold,  their  message,  "Tell  mi/  friends 
for  me,  farewell." 

Tn  these  personal  and  intimate  relations  with  the  un- 
fortunate, T  experience  joy  in  the  belief  that  eternity  will 


Causes  and  Cures  165 

reveal  that  such  visitatioiis  were  not  in  vain;  and  as  there 
flashed  upon  my  mind  with  new  luster  the  words  of  Jesus, 
"I  was  in  prison  and  ye  came  unto  me/'  I  was  enabled  to 
pursue  with  pleasure  and  comparative  ease  what  may  have 
seemed  to  others  overwork. 

I  also  held  a  special  service  each  Sabbath  morning  at 
eight  o'clock  in  the  hospital.  This  consisted  in  singing  by 
the  choir,  reading  of  Scripture,  with  remarks  and  prayer. 
This  service  was  for  the  benefit  of  those  employed  therein 
and  the  sick.  The  interest  manifested  by  the  sick  during 
these  services  at  times  was  peculiarly  affecting.  As  the 
choir  sang  of  "home,"  "heaven,"  and  "the  sweet  by  and  by," 
and  as  some  precious  words  from  the  Bible  were  read,  one 
might  witness  the  sick  lifting  themselves  and  resting  their 
heads  on  elbowed  hands,  or  turning  faces  toward  us,  with 
countenances  aglow  with  emotion,  while  anon  a  tear-drop 
was  brushed  hurriedly  from  the  pale  or  fevered  face. 


166  The  Criminal  Classes 


BEHIND  THE  BARS. 

Observations. 

To  AID  in  the  further  study  of  the  criminally  delinquent 
classes,  and  enable  the  student  to  take  some  note  of  their 
spirit  and  conduct  while  under  penal  service,  I  present  the 
folloAving  pages,  consisting  of  notes,  personal  observations, 
additional  miscellaneous  facts,  and  contributions  from  the 
incarcerated,  most  of  which  will,  I  think,  prove  to  be  in- 
teresting and  quite  suggestive  to  the  reader : 

LX. 

A  Prisoner's  Review. 

Extracts  from  Preface  and  Contents  of  Prison  Poems — "'The  Bard 
Behind  the  Bars,"  by  T.  H.  T.— An  Intelligent,  but  Weak 
and  Unfortunate  Man — The  Present — The  Future — The  Hu- 
man and  the  Divine  Sides — Faith  on  Wings — Prisoner's  Hope. 

With  the  Union  veterans  I  stood  in  many  hard-fought 
battles.  The  Confederate  veterans  taught  me  the  sting  of 
rebel  lead.  Wounded  five  times  in  battle,  I  survived  the 
four-year  conflict  of  our  long,  cruel  war.  To-day,  alas !  I 
am  wounded  and  bleeding  in  the  great  battle  of  life.  The 
scars  of  flesh  have  healed ;  the  wounds  of  disgrace  never 
can.  There  was  not  a  soldier  in  the  war,  wearing  blue  or 
gray,  who  would  not  have  risked  his  own  life  to  bear  a 
wounded  comrade  to  a  x>lace  of  safety ;  but  how  sadly  dif- 
ferent now.  I  Avas  a  Union  soldier.  Through  misfortune 
such  as  few  men  ever  meet,  T  have  been  stricken  down.  The 
Loyal  Legion  priest  and  Grand  Army  Invite  pass  l)y  on 
the  other  side.     The  pioneers  who  have  gone  before  are 


Causes  and  Cures  167 

preparing  to  pontoon  us  over  the  Rappahannock  of  death. 
The  struggle  of  life  is  nearing  an  end  for  each  of  us.  Then 
comes  the  greatest  honor  that  many  of  us  ever  knew — the 
honor  of  the  grave. 

In  life  we  are  often  crushed  and  kept  down  by  selfish 
men.  In  death  our  graves  are  covered  with  flowers,  sweet 
songs  echo  over  them,  and  we  are  called  heroes,  brave  men 
who  ofEered  life  and  limb  in  their  country's  defense.  Make 
one  misstep  in  life,  and  you  may  go  down  forever.  Com- 
rades, in  a  few  months  more  I  shall  be  laid  aAvay  on  the  hill- 
side. The  pardon  I  craved  in  life  in  vain  will  then  be  mine. 
I  shall  fill  a  soldier's  grave.  The  very  ground  where  I  lie 
will  be  called  sacred — a  hallowed  spot.  Kind  hearts  and 
loving  hands  will  mark  my  resting-place.  They  will  place 
a  cross  of  lilies  on  my  breast,  lay  a  wreath  of  roses  at  my 
head,  and  scatter  flowers  all  over  me,  and  say :  "He  was 
one  of  our  country's  brave  defenders !  We  will  honor  his 
memory !"  0  my  friends,  when  it  comes  to  that,  pass  on 
to  the  next  silent  vedette  and  give  my  honors  to  him.  I 
will  not  need  then  that  which  was  withheld  from  me  all 
through  life.  Pick  up  the  withered  wreaths  from  my  grave 
and  hang  them  up  on  the  walls  of  the  Grand  Army  temple. 
I  am  an  enrolled  inmate  of  the  Soldiers'  Home,  at  San- 
dusky, Ohio,  and  was  on  my  way  to  that  institution,  some 
years  ago,  when  arrested  for  a  crime  I  never  committed. 
I  was  arrested  from  photograph  resemblance,  and  the  de- 
tective received  $100  for  convicting  me. 

Why  do  we  wait  and  coldly  stint  our  praises, 
And  leave  our  reverent  homage  unexpressed 

Till  brave  hearts  lie  beneath  a  bed  of  daisies. 

Then  heap  with  flowers  each  hallowed  place  of  rest? 

For  every  year  the  veteran  ranks  are  broken, 
And  every  year  new  g:raves  await  our  flowers  ; 

Oh.  why  not  give  to  living  hearts  some  token 
Of  half  the  love  and  pride  that  throb  thro'  ours? 


168  The  Criminal  Classes 

Bring  blooms  to  crown  the  dead — but,  in  your  giving, 
Forget  not  hearts  that  still  can  feel  and  ache ; 

Oh,  give  your  richest  garlands  to  the  living 
Who  offered  all  in  youth  for  honor's  sake ! 


THE   PRISOA'ER'S    HOPE. 

.     .     .     Within  a  dungeon  dark. 

I  breathe  my  Savior's  name ; 
His  love  ignites  a  heavenly  spark, 

More  bright  than  earthly  fame. 

Tho'  iron  door  exclude  the  day. 

And  make  it  dark  within, 
It  can't  shut  out  the  faintest  ray 

Of  heavenly  light  let  in; 

Tho'  fetter  bind  each  aching  limb, 

And  countless  sorrows  roll. 
They  cannot  bar  the  ways  to  Him 

That  liberates  the  soul ! 

Then  let  the  world,  inhuman,  cold, 

Exulting  at  my  fall, 
Take  back  her  gaze — oh,  peace  untold, 

Christ  hears  the  convict's  call ! 

A  bruised  heart  he  will  not  break, 

Nor  quench  hope's  feeble  flame ; 
And  when  all  earthly  friends  forsake, 

I  find  him  still  the  same.  —2'.  H.  T. 


Causes  and  Cures  169 


LXII. 

A  Letter  fko:\i  a  Coxvict  Father  to  His  Son. 

Brodie  Willis,  Columbus,  Ohio. 

My  dear  Sox  :  Through  aa  imfortuuate  combiuation  of  circum- 
stances I  have  been  taken  from  my  family  and  so  situated  as  to  be 
unable  to  act  the  part  or  perform  the  duties  of  a  parent  toward 
you.  Yet  I  wish  you  to  bear  in  mind  that  you  possess  a  father's 
truest  and  warmest  love,  and  that  when  I  can,  I  will  take  your 
young  life  from  the  darkness  that  for  a  while  has  clouded  it  o'er 
and  try  to  lead  you  out  into  the  sunshine  of  a  brighter,  happier, 
and  a  better  life.  This  I  will  do  if  I  live;  but,  lest  anything 
should  occur  to  keep  us  forever  separated,  I  will  leave  these  words 
for  your  consideration,  hoping  they  may,  to  some  extent,  mold 
your  future,  and  leave  impressed  upon  your  mind  indelibly  the 
fact  that  your  father  loves  you  and  wishes  for  your  future  happi- 
ness and  welfare : 

1.  Be  select  in  your  associations.  A  man's  whole  life  is  judged 
by  the  company  he  keeps. 

2.  Be  honest,  for  a  man  who  is  not  honest  is  a  fool.  He  may 
be  educated,  he  may  be  cunning,  he  may  be  successful  as  the  world 
calls  it,  still  he  is  a  fool.  I  would  have  you  be  honest  for  your  own 
sake,  though  nobody  were  to  know  it,  just  as  you  would  be  clean 
for  your  own  sake,  though  no  body  were  to  see  you.  A  man  can 
be  happy  only  when  he  is  strictly  honest,  when  he  has  a  conscience 
void  of  ofiEense  toward  God  and  man. 

3.  Be  choice  in  your  language.  Use  no  profane  words,  but  be 
candid  and  courteous  to  everybody,  be  they  rich  or  poor. 

4.  Be  industrious,  for  by  industry  you  carry  in  your  own  hands 
independence,  and  will,  in  time,  surround  yourself  with  home  and 
home  comforts  that  will  make  your  latter  days  comfortable  and 
pleasant. 

5.  Store  your  mind  with  useful  knowledge.  Read  works  that 
appeal  to  your  reason,  and  you  will  add  many  things  to  your  store 
of  information  that  will  serve  to  improve  your  mind  and  place 
you  above  the  petty  and  useless  things  of  life.  Among  other  books, 
read  the  Bible ;  it  is  a  great  work.  Its  code  of  moral  laws  is  the 
best  the  world  ever  knew ;  and  you  will  be  profited  by  following 
the  rules  there  laid  down  for  the  government  of  man.  The  char- 
acter of  Christ  is  a  grand  and  praiseworthy  one.  Follow  it  as 
well  as  you   can,  for  he  was  a   man  of  goodness ;   his   heart  was 

11 


170  The  Criminal  Classes 


filled  with  love  and  charity,  and  by  emulating  his  actions  and  by 
following  his  teachings,  your  life  will  be  an  exemplary  one.  Take 
his  teachings  into  your  life,  make  them  a  part  of  yourself,  that 
those  with  whom  you  come  in  contact  may  regard  you  as  a  true 
man ;  and  that,  in  the  grand  summing  up  of  life's  actions,  you  may 
not  be  displeased  with  the  part  you  have  acted.  Be  just  to  God, 
to  man,  and  to  yourself.  Keep  heart  an  hands  clean,  and  by  so 
doing  show  your  obedience  to  one  who,  though  unfortunate,  is  still 
pleased  to  call  you  son  and  happy  to  be  your  father.  From  your 
ever-loving  father,  B.  B.  Burn. 


Causes  and  Cures  171 


LXIII. 

A  Letter  from  a  Wife  to  Her  Convict  Husband  in 

Prison. 

Danville,  Illinois. 
Dear  Husband  :  I  intended  writing  you  before  this,  and  thought 
surely  I  should  on  our  darling  boy's  birthday,  which  was  last  Mon- 
day, the  28th.  Did  you  think  of  it?  Charlie,  I  have  had  no  girl 
for  three  weeks  to-morrow.  I  had  a  colored  one  for  eight  or  ten 
days,  to  get  wood,  coal,  and  water,  but  did  all  the  rest  myself,  even 
my  washing.  I  feel  to-day  I  cannot  go  a  week  longer  with  my 
work.  I  wi'ote  to  Urbana  for  a  girl,  but  have  not  heard  from 
her.  It  is  almost  impossible  to  get  a  girl  here,  there  is  such  a  cry 
for  help.  I  have  only  had  the  four  boarders  for  the  last  three 
weeks,  and  doctor  and  wife  have  been  in  Chicago  this  week,  so 
Ralph  and  I  have  been  alone.  I  got  Mrs.  Black's  girl  to  stay  nights 
with  us,  as  the  other  boarders  are  day  ones,  and  in  this  great,  large 
house  it  was  very  lonely.  Oh,  my,  such  stormy,  bad  weather ! 
While  I  am  writing  it  storms  fearfully  out.  It  will  seem  good  to 
have  pleasant,  warm  weather  again,  for  the  cold  weather  has  lasted 
so  long.  Well,  as  usual,  on  R's  birthday  I  let  him  invite  in  a  few 
of  his  most  intimate  friends,  to  take  tea  with  him.  He  looked  up 
at  me  and  saw  me  looking  around,  and  he  said,  "O  mamma,  we  only 
need  one  more  here  to  he  so  vei-y  happy,  and  that  is  my  papa." 

0  Charlie,  words  fail  to  express  what  I  wish  to  say  when  our  dear 
little  one  asks  why  I  won't  tell  him  where  his  papa  is  and  why  he 
did  not  send  the  express  wagon  he  said  he  would  on  his  birthday. 

1  told  him  last  fall  that  you  said  Christmas  or  on  his  birthday 
you  would  send  him  a  wagon,  and  he  has  not  forgot  it.  I  got 
him  a  new  pair  of  shoes  for  a  present,  but  wished  I  was  able  to 
get  him  something  more.  I  have  to  be  very  saving  now,  with  so 
few  boarders,  for  it  takes  so  much  to  keep  up  fires. 

Do  you  keep  well?  There  is  not  a  day  passes  over  my  head  but 
I  think  of  you,  and  of  how  lonely  the  evenings  and  Sundays  must 
be  for  you,  for  I  suppose  you  are  at  work  during  the  day.  It  seems 
hard,  even  if  you  are  in  prison,  to  think  that  from  your  labor  your 
wife  and  child  get  not  one  cent.  It  is  not  right.  And  must  I 
tell  you?  Yes,  I  must.  I  have  been  having  palpitation  of  the 
heart,  and>  since  I  have  been  trying  to  do  my  work,  I  have  had 
several  spells.  The  physicians  say  that  I  must  not  do  housework, 
and  since  I  have  to  do  it,  there  is  no  telling  what  the  result  will 


173  The  Criminal  Classes 


be.  Dear,  oh,  dear !  it  nearly  sets  me  wild  to  think  of  it,  and  of 
my  dear  little  l)oy  left  homeless,  motherless,  and  fatherless.  Oh,  if 
you  were  only  home,  how  much  of  the  burden  you  might  take  from 
me.  Ralph  is  iu  school,  but  has  not  been  well  all  winter.  I  don't 
want  him  to  go  while  the  weather  is  so  bad,  but  he  doesn't  want 
to  miss  any. 

Well,  changing  the  tenor  of  my  letter,  mother  and  Aunt  Lizzie, 
from  Salem,  were  here  on  a  short  visit  in  February.  They  seemed 
to  enjoy  their  visit  very  much,  but  aunt  said  mother  was  worry- 
ing so  much  about  me.  Jennie  is  having  two  weeks  vacation,  as 
the  measles  and  mumps  are  so  bad  in  her  school,  so  I  wrote  for 
her  to  come  and  stay  next  week  with  me.  I  think  she  will.  She  is 
not  well,  and  I  don't  like  to  I)e  alone  so  much,  of  nights  especially, 
for  you  know  I  am  afraid. 

Well,  the  fourteenth  of  this  month,  one  week  from  next  Monday, 
is  our  ninth  anniversary.  Time,  O  Time,  where  are  you  taking 
us?  And  what  will  be  the  future  before  us?  God,  and  he  alone 
does  know. 

I  send  you  a  little  piece  of  poeti-y  which  I  came  across  and 
liked.  Soon  as  I  get  time  I  will  have  Ralph's  picture  taken  and 
send  it  you.  He  has  spoken  of  it  several  times.  Wliat  are  you 
doing?  Do  you  have  sermons  preached,  or  Sunday  school,  or  any- 
thing to  read?  And.  oh,  what  kind  of  a  place  is  a  prison?  I  never 
have  seen,  and  never  want  to  see  such  a  place,  for  the  name  of  it 
has  clouded  my  whole  life.  Well,  write  when  you  can,  and  always 
let  your  last  thoughts  at  night  and  first  in  the  morning  be  of  your 
wife  and  child,  no  difference  what  may  happen. 

From  your  wife, 

Marie. 


Causes  and  Cures  173 


LXIY. 

Token  of  Appreciation. 

Befoee  leaving  my  office,  one  noon,  I  learned  that  one  of 
the  prisoners  was  quite  indisposed.  Eetiiming  in  the  after- 
noon, I  sent  to  him  a  lemon,  and  received  in  return  the 
following  expression : 

Platk  Shop,  September  9.  1880. 
Chaplain. 

Dear  Sni :  I  received  your  ambrosial  repast  last  evening  with 
a  grateful  heart.  Not  because  I  stood  in  need  of  it,  but  because 
I  appreciate  the  tender  consideration  that  prompted  the  humble 
gift. 

For  men  like  you  my  heart  beats  true. 

But  niggards  I  detest ; 
I  'bominate  the  heart  of  stone, 
That  lives  but  for  itself  alone, 
Whilst  others  go  uublest. 

—H.  Coles,  10059. 


174  The  Criminal  Classes 


LXY. 

A  Platonic  Address. 

When  the  hour  is  past  that  of  midnight. 

Sweetly  dream  I,  fair  stranger  of  thee, 
And  wish  in  my  dreams,  with  ecstatic  delight, 

To  fondle  the  face  when  awake  I  would  see. 

Seraphic  vision  in  my  sleeping  hours, 

Sure  harbinger  of  sweetest  waking  thoughts, 

Canst  thou  conceive  I  would  resign  all  powers 
To  dream  of  thee  as  of  my  chaste  consort? 

'T  is  so.    Yet  hold  your  ready  censure,  pray. 

Nor  feel  alarmed,  nor  say  that  thou  dost  veto 
Sucli  holy  love  as  I  have  heard  some  say 

Was  felt  by  that  great  Grecian  lover,  Plato. 

Such  love,  fair  maid,  can  ne'er  be  bought. 
And  such  is  mine ;  and,  being  such,  it  seems 

I  might  be  safely  left  to  indulge  the  thought. 
When  full  awake,  and  so  realize  my  dreams. 

If  thou  consentest.  then,  to  he  addressed 
In  my  'wake  moments,  and  by  such  a  love. 

I  truly  shall  account  me  the  most  blessed 
Of  mortals  here  on  earth,  or  saints  above. 

Accept,  unsought,  this  guerdon  truly  pure. 

Be.stowed  with  thoughts  most  holy  and  sublime 
Nor  think  the  largess  intruded  to  allure 

And  to  deceive  the  one  I  call  divine. 

Wilt  thou  forego  such  happy  bliss  and  charms 
Because  the  tender  made  is  by  one  proscribed? 

Accept,  nor  think  it  pregnant  with  foul  harms 
To  own  thyself  beloved  as  here  described. 

Such  love  doth  make  a  troubled  life  serene. 
And  turns  this  hellish  earth  to  paradise. 

Prepares  one  for  the  place  wherein  convenes 
The  angels  "in  that  home  beyond  the  skies." 


Causes  and  Cures  175 

Wilt  thou  ignore,  refuse  to  accept  the  gift, 

And  send  me  wandering  again  in  streams 
So  shallow?    Wilt  thou  cut  me  adrift 

And  bid  me  have  thee  present  only  in  dreams? 

Thou  mayest  choose  far  worse  than  have  the  name 
Of  choosing  to  be  loved  by  such  as  me, 
For  though,  unlike  Plato,  I  am  lost  to  fame, 
My  love  is  chaste  as  his  was  said  to  be. 

I  may  be  painted  black — a  wretch  most  craven, 

Reviled  and  traduced  and  under  ban ; 
But  love  is  love,  and  mine  immutable  as  Heaven, 

And  pure  as  ever  was  indulged  by  man. 

Discard  we  all  bad  thoughts  and  join  we  hands 

In  friendship  everlasting,  true  and  pure, 
As  our  kindred  nature  and  our  God  commands, 

If  of  that  rich  reward  we  would  be  sure. 

—John  Doe,  O.  P. 


176  The  Criminal  Classes 


LX^'I. 

Sad  Thoughts. 

Forbid  me,  good  stranger,  to  call  thee  by  uame, 
Forbid,  lest  I,  in  so  doing,  sliould  smear  tliy  fair  fame. 
Forbid,  lest  in  time  you  should  have  aught  to  fear, 
Forbid,  lest  in  time  you  should  shed  some  sad  tear. 

Forbid  that  the  felon,  behind  bolts  and  bars, 
Should  teach  thee  some  day  to  curse  thy  fell  stars ; 
Forbid  and  forget  that  thou  ever  didst  see 
So  vile  a  man  as  't  is  said  I  must  be. 

Forbid  me  your  presence,  spurn  me  as  the  rest, 
Nor  grant  me  the  sight  of  one  of  the  blest. 
Forbid  me  to  think  that  thou  dost  live. 
And  forbear  in  the  future  thy  bounty  to  give. 

, Entombed  in  this  dungeon,  alive,  but  in  tears, 
And  dead,  as  it  were,  foi*  full  fifteen  years, 
Proscribed  by  the  law,  deprived  of  all  right, 
I  may  not  aspire  to  have  thee  in  sight. 

Trod  on  by  fortune,  forsaken  by  all. 

Leave  me,  fair  stranger,  and  stay  beyond  tall. 

Leave  and  forget  me  ere  it  be  late. 

Leave  me  to  conquer  or  l)o  comiuered  by  Fate. 

Forget,  by  all  means,  that  one  such  as  I 
Met  your  fair  gaze  and  darkened  your  sky; 
Fear  and  hate  me  for  what  you  wot  not. 
As  the  rest  of  the  world,  and  here  let  me  rot. 

Yet,  for  your  deeds  and  Christian-hearted  bent, 
I  give  you  some  leave  my  fall  to  lament : 
But  pray  that  your  sorrow  and  pitying  tear 
Is  felt  and  is  shed  for  my  illegal  stay  here. 

How  great  my  fall  !     From  Fortune's  topmost  round. 
Yet  now  to  deepest  depths  of  hell  be  bound  ; 
Alive,  yet  though   living,  quite  dead. 
Since  all  hope  is  from  my  sad  bosom  Hed. 


Causes  and  Cures  177 

And  doomed  to  die  here,  and  interred  like  a  dog, 
Nor  any  requiem  chanted  for  my  soul,  if  but  by  a  frog ; 
None  but  a  dear  mother  left  to  starve  and  groan 
For  the  inglorious  ending  of  her  distant  son. 

All  glory  fi-om  me  gone,  by  all  mistook, 
By  all  my  whilom  friends  forgotten  and  forsook ; 
None  to  lament  my  death,  nor  shed  a  tear, 
Nor  march  in  sable  black  behind  my  bier. 

No  headstone  and  no  friendly  epitaph, 
No  flowers  around  me  save  some  grassy  chaff 
Growing  there,  and  by  my  corse  manured,  to  mock 
Me  for  the  faults  in  life  that  I  took  stock. 

The  only  friend  in  here,  when  dead,  I  '11  find. 
Perchance,  in  some  mild  zephyr,  or  soft  gust  of  wind, 
Which,  when  weary  otherwhere  to  moan  and  fly. 
May  come  to  moan  sad  music  where  I  lie. 

Nor  can  I  hope  to  have  such  music  play 
At  length  to  awake  me  on  the  eternal  day  ; 
But  all  that  it  will  do  will  be  to  come  and  sigh 
A  while  around  my  grave  and  o'er  me  die. 

O  God.  this  is  too  hard,  too  hard  a  fate  I 
Save,  oh,  save  rae,  't  is  not  even  now  too  late. 
And  in  thy  greatest  tnercy  raise  me  a  friend 
That  will,  in  this  my  sorest  need,  assistance  lend. 

Forgive,  O  God.  and  teach  others  to  forgive. 
That  I  may  have  respite  and  longer  live  ; 
Nor  let  me  live  exiled  from  home  and  friends. 
For  though  alive,  yet  without  these,  my  living  ends. 

My  soul,  now  thus  enrapt  in  gloom  and  grief. 

Pours  out  this  orison  to  thee  to  grant  relief : 

And  not  to  let  me  die  here,  but  be  released  and  live 

To  praise  thee  for  a  second  gift  of  life  thou  once  didst  give. 

— A  Convict. 


178  The  Criminal  Classes 


LXVII. 

CoxcEALED  Identity. 

Ix  chapter  fifteen,  reference  is  made  to  the  death  of  a 
^vay^^'ard  brother,  some  years  ago,  who  sought  to  perpetu- 
ally eo]iceaI  his  identity  from  his  friends,  and  who  would 
have  succeeded  but  for  the  information  furnished  by  a 
criminal  associate  after  his  death.. 

This  is  not  an  isolated  case.  No,  there  are  many  who 
succeed  in  keeping  their  relatives  and  honorable  friends 
in  what  they  term  "blissful  ignorance"  as  to  where  they  are 
and  Avhat  they  do.  If  they  correspond  with  relatives  at 
all,  they  do  so  through  some  criminal  or  other  personal 
favorite,  who  usually  resides  at  some  distance  from  the 
place  of  incarceration,  generally  outside  of  the  State.  This 
favorite  receives  and  remails  all  correspondence,  l)oth  to 
the  convict  and  his  friends.  Only  occasionally  does  the  out- 
side world  obtain  such  information  through  some  gossip  or 
favored  individual. 

Cases,  however,  constantly  come  to  the  surface  within 
prisons  that  would  surprise  those  outside.  Many  who  are 
acquainted  Avith  such  convicts,  as  well  as  their  own  fam- 
ilies, only  know  that  they  have  disappeared,  that  they  have 
been  reported  missing.  Some  suppose  them  dead,  yet  all 
opinions  as  to  what  has  become  of  them  are  based  only  on 
conjecture,  except  among  those  familiar  with  the  secrets 
of  prison  life. 

There  was  a  young  man  in  the  prison  from  a  town  not 
far  from  Columbus,  and  the  people  of  that  to\^^l  had  no 
knowledge  whatever  of  it.  He  came  from  another  county. 
X  colored  man  from  Springfield  once  wrote  to  his  friends 


Causes  and  Cures  179 

that  he  was  in  Columbus,  Ohio,  sick,  in  the  hospital.  A 
friend  concluded  to  go  to  see  him.  After  going  to  St. 
Francis  Hospital  and  making  inquiry  of  u^any  persons 
without  succeeding  in  finding  the  patient,  somebody  sug- 
gested the  liospital  at  the  prison.  He  went  there,  arriving 
one  day  too  late  to  see  the  prisoner  alive. 

A  man  who  was  pardoned  left  his  papers  at  the  prison. 
They  would  "give  Mm  away"  where  he  was  known.  His 
letters  to  his  mother  were  addressed  to  a  man  in  Illi- 
nois, who  forwarded  them  to  her.  Her  letters  came  through 
the  same  channel.  Her  place  of  residence  was  not  known  to 
the  officials. 

A  man  died  at  the  prison.  At  the  last  moment,  he  wrote 
to  his  Adfe  in  Philadelphia.  She  didn't  know  where  he 
was  until  then. 

Here  is  a  case  given  in  the  Indianapolis  News,  in  1903  : 

"Confined  within  the  walls  of  the  reformatory  at  Jeffer- 
sonville,  serving  an  indeterminate  sentence,  is  a  man  who 
is  a  puzzle  to  the  authorities,  and  who  has  caused  the  board 
of  managers  to  ask  each  other  the  vexing  question,  What 
manner  of  man  is  this  that  prefers  imprisonment  to  identi- 
fication?' Two  years  ago,  there  was  received  at  the  re- 
formatory a  prisoner  from  Marion,  Grant  County,  to  serve 
a  sentence  of  two  to  fourteen  years  for  forgery.  His  iden- 
tity was  unknown,  and  the  man  was  a  living  mystery  to  the 
Grant  County  officials,  being  a  stranger  in  Marion.  He 
was  arrested  and  convicted  of  forging  a  check,  refusing  in 
court  to  give  his  name  or  address.  Tlie  presiding  judge 
had  him  arraigned  under  the  name  of  John  Frazee,  and 
by  this  cognoment  he  was  received  at  the  reformatory.  His 
conduct  as  a  prisoner  has  been  exemplary,  and,  being  a 
bright,  intellectual  man,  evidently  possessed  of  a  college 
education,  he  was  placed  in  charge  of  the  prison  library. 
His  penmanship  is  excellent,  and  he  does  much  of  the 
prison  correspondence. 


180  The  Criminal  Classes 

"During  his  two  years'  confinement  he  has  never  been 
reprimanded,  and  is  liked  by  all  the  officials.  He  has  never 
written  a  letter  to  any  person  or  entertained  a  visitor  since 
his  term  began,  and  he  stolidly  refuses  to  disclose  his 
identity  to  Superintendent  Hert.  As  he  was  elegible  to 
parole,  he  was  before  the  board  of  managers  last  week,  but 
when  he  was  requested  to  give  his  proper  name  and  ad- 
dress he  absolutely  refused  to  do  so,  saying  he  would  rather 
remain  and  serve  his  full  term — fourteen  years — than  to 
accept  parole  under  those  circumstances.  He  further  said 
that  he  did  not  propose,  under  any  consideration,  to  dis- 
close his  identit}',  as  his  family  never  should  know  of  him 
through  his  disgrace. 

"The  rules  of  the  board  are  such  that  the  managers  could 
not  parole  him  unless  they  were  cognizant  of  his  former  life 
and  identity,  and  Frazee  went  back  to  the  library  deter- 
mined to  remain  the  full  limit  of  fourteen  years  rather 
than  let  the  world  know  of  his  downfall.  The  board  is 
indulging  in  much  speculation  just  now  as  to  who  Frazee 
really  is.  He  is  a  good-looking  young  man,  of  the  blonde 
type,  about  twenty-six  years  old,  and  carries  himself  with 
the  air  of  a  gentleman.  He  is  an  excellent  conversation- 
alist, and  does  not  bear  the  imprint  of  a  criminal.  He  re- 
funded the  money  he  had  secured  on  the  forged  check,  but 
this  did  not  save  him  from  donning  the  convict  garb. 
Senator  Duncan,  who  is  a  member  of  the  board,  says  that 
all  the  convicts  in  the  institution  know  of  Frazee'?  actions 
in  the  matter,  and  are  watching  the  outcome  with  much 
interest.  INfany  believe  that  he  will  keep  his  word  and  re- 
main the  full  fourteen  years,  rather  than  tell  who  and 
what  he  is." 

T  have  been  able  several  times  to  discover  concealed 
identity,  confidentially,  after  announcing  in  chapel  that 
T  lind  received  letters  of  importance  from  certain  parties 
residing  at  certain  places,  which  had  important  informa- 


Causes  and  Cures  181 

tion  to  give  to  siich  as  could  answer  to  the  name  and 
description  given,  and  asking  such  to  report  to  me,  if  within 
the  prison. 


182  The  Criminal  Classes 


LXVIIL 
Field  and  Forest,  Liberty  axd  Exile. 

[By  a  prisoner  about  forty-two  years  of  age,  when  completing  his  sec- 
,ond  term  of  imprisonment,  malting  in  all  an  aggregation  of  aboiit  four- 
teen years  of  penal  service.  The  consideration  of  this  fact  will  serve  as  an 
explanation  for  the  pessimistic  expressions  iind  views  of  life.  The  pict- 
ures here  drawn,  and  the  statements  herein  made,  are  however,  too  true 
to  be  ignored,  but  well  deserve  repeated  careful  reading  and  candid  con- 
sideration.—D.  R.  M.] 

An  Elegy— m  tivo  parts. 

Past  I, 
Fain  would  my  muse  some  nobler  song  berhyme, 
Some  notes  that  echo  with  a  sweeter  chime  ; 
Fain  would  I  celebrate  my  native  hills. 
And  draw  sweet  music  from  the  purling  rills ; 
Like  Arion  chant,  like  Thilomela  sing, 
Like  fabled  Orpheus  make  the  valleys  ring. 

'T  is  love  fraternal  prompt's  my  rising  song ; 

To  piteous  themes  more  piteous  strains  belong. 

Through  bolts  and  bars  the  self-same  spot  I  view. 

Where  once  the  oak  and  stalwart  cedar  grew, 

In  days  primeval,  when  the  world  was  new. 

With  sad  dismay  I  gaze  upon  the  lawn. 

Where  grazed  the  stag  and  skipped  the  bounding  fawn  ; 

Where  once  the  dusky  chieftain  wooed  his  squaw, 

When  right  made  might,  and  liberty  was  law ; 

And  sylvan  beauties  here  their  charms  displayed 

And  woke  glad  echoes  through  the  glimmering  glade. 

Scioto's  shores  the  swarthy  Indian  roamed  ; 

Scioto's  waters  once  his  paddle  foamed  ; 

And  darksome  bevies  through  the  forest  strolled, 

Ere  hands  profane  had  stirred  the  virgin  mold. 

How  changed  the  sight !     The  trembling  trees  can  tell, — 

That  once  gave  shelter  to  the  dark-eyed  belle. 

The  trembling  trees,  a  thousand  tongues  reply, 

With  aching  hearts  that  answer  with  a  sigh. 

By  flowers,  beasts,  and  birds  the  story  best  is  told, — 
The  braves  have  perished  and  their  tongues  are  cold, — 
By  swaying  pines  that  wavered  in  the  breeze, 
By  tinkling  rills  that  whispered  to  the  trees, 
By  browsing  herds  that  fed  among  the  hills, 
By  gurgling  streams  that  murmured  to  the  rills, 


Causes  and  Cures  183 


By  warbling  birds  that  sang  among  the  glades, 
By  black-eyed  nymphs  that  slumbered  in  the  shades 
Ere  hostile  bands  their  artless  foes  beguiled, 
When  woodbines  flourished  and  the  forest  smiled. 

These  sights  and  scenes  no  longer  greet  our  eyes  ; 

Where  once  the  trees,  now  hoary  walls  arise, — 

Beleaguei'ed  walls,  whose  dismal  round  contains 

Sepulchral  holes,  where  ghostly  silence  reigns, 

A  pompous  structure  of  imposing  height, 

Where  frowning  arches  throw  a  somber  light 

O'er  concave  stones  that  busy  feet  have  worn. 

By  the  world  forgotten,  and  by  hope  forlorn  ; 

Full  many  a  tear  upon  these  cold  stones  fell. 

From  eyes  long  closed,  who  've  bid  the  world  forewell ! 

What  though  the  tears  like  dread  Niagara  flow, 

The  walls  relentless  still  presume  to  grow. 

As  hapless  wights  by  cruel  laws  are  clutched. 

The  halls  are  widened  and  the  cells  retouched. 

High,  and  more  high,  th'  imposing  arches  rise ;  \ 

The  domes  mount  upward  and  salute  the  skies. 

Wide  and  more  wide  the  lengthening  shadows  run 

Till  shade  meets  shadow  and  they  blend  in  one. 

O'er  all  the  ground  the  noxious  shades  disperse 

And  blight  the  whole  scene  with  a  withering  curse. 

Ah !  woeful  sight  this  dismal  wound  displays ; 

A  motley  group  stands  open  to  our  gaze. 

Dense  as  the  bees  that  roam  the  woodland  o'er 

To  forage  honey  for  their  winter  store ; 

When  at  the  close  of  each  glad  summer  day 

They  quit  their  toils  and  homeward  wend  their  way, 

And  throng  the  hives,  in  slumbers  for  the  night. 

Till  fiery  Phcelus  with  his  amber  light 

Invites  his  guests  to  sip  the  fragrant  dew. 

Resume  their  journey,  and  their  toils  renew. 

Here  sires  their  sons  behold  with  tearful  eyes, 
Here  frantic  mothers  vent  their  piteous  cries ; 
Here  statesmen  wise,  from  many  quarters  trend, 
Their  wants  solicit,  and  their  selves  commend. 
Here  heedless  Hymen  sends  the  nuptial  train. 
The  pale-faced  maiden  and  the  rustic  swain. 
The  poor,  the  rich,  the  master,  and  the  slave. 
The  great,  the  small,  the  valiant,  and  the  brave. 
The  buxom  youth,  the  tot'ring,  gray-haired  sire, 
With  ling'ring  steps,  reluctant  to  retire, — 
The  victims  ponder  and  the  walls  admire. 


184  The  Criminal  Classes 


Here  souls  benighted  to  the  fanes  attend. 
With  broken  spirits  to  their  Maker  bend. 
With  shriving  priests  they  bow  the  knee  in  prayer, 
Not  from  devotion,  but  from  bh\ck  despair. 
In  search  of  aid,  and  for  a  happier  state. 
They  bovp  and  worship  at  the  shrines  they  hate, 
Nor  leave  untried  to  soothe  the  troubled  breast 
What  Heaven  affords  or  fiends  of  hell  suggest'. 
Here  petty  rogues  in  silence  pass  the  day, 
Bemoan  their  fate  and  greater  rogues  obey ; 
Here  petty  lords,  with  poud'rous  clul)s  are  seen. 
In  coats  of  mail,  go  stalking  o'er  the  green  : 
Here  great  divines  in  sweet  luxuriance  dwell 
And  snatch  poor  sinners  from  the  jaws  of  hell. 
And  for  their  Avounds  a  wond'rous  balm  procure — 
"Try  this,  try  that ;  the  remedy  is  sure" ; 
But  to  be  skilled  and  perfect  in  their  trade 
They  should  themselves  a  pris'ner  be  made,* 
Discard  their  priestly  gowns,  and  doff  their  shirts. 
Find  where  the  sore  will  break  and  where  it  hurts. 
By  pangs  and  throes  be  made  to  feel  the  smart 
That  craze  the  brain  and  lacerate  the  heart — 
This,  only  this,  will  plenteous  grace  impart. 


Part  II. 

None  but  the  vanquished,  careworn  prisoner  knows 
A  prisoner's  cares,  nor  contemplates  his  woes. 
Committed  once,  within  tyrannic  arms. 
Existence  loses  all  its  sacred  charms. 

-I  once  knew  a  young  man  in  the  city  of  Boston,  who  thought  to  ac- 
complish himself  in  the  art  of  running  the  steam-engine  by  reading 
books  devoted  to  that  science  witliout  the  aid  of  practical  experience. 
After  carefully  perusing  several  authors,  and  studying  many  pictures, 
he  thought  himself  a  most  scientific  engineer.  And  when  taken  into 
the  engineer's  examination  office,  he  could  answer  many  questions  con- 
cerning the  generation  of  steam,  its  momentous  power,  Its  mode  of  oper- 
ating, etc.;  but  when  asked  what  he  would  do  in  case  of  emergency,— If 
so  and  so  was  to  happen  to  his  engine,— he  couldn't  tell.  And  when 
taken  before  a  veritable  engine,  with  flre  in  the  furnace  and  steam  in 
the  boiler,  and  blowing  at  the  safety-valve,  and  told  to  start,  stop,  and 
reverse  the  engine,  he  couldn't  lay  his  hand  upon  a  single  lever— not  for 
want  of  genius,  but  for  want  of  experience.  The  same  is  true  with  all 
other  professions.  Genius  suggests  how  a  thing  should  or  might  be 
doni»;  experience  walks  boldly  up  and  says,  "I  can  doit";  pulls  oft  his 
coat,  rolls  up  his  sleeves,  and  perforins  the  task.  Genius,  considered  in 
the  abstract.  Is  enviable;  experience,  considered  in  the  abstract,  service- 
able.   Genius  and  experience  united  are  sublime. 

Experience  teaches  by  astern  command— 
His  rules  the  lazy  truant  must  obey: 
Tlie  precepts  taught  arc  good  as  cash  in  hand, 
Tliat  time,  nor  space,  nor  aught  can  take  away. 


Causes  and  Cures  185 


What  soul  but  enters  these  sequestered  walls, 

A  prey  to  ruin  and  misfortune  falls. 

Once  the  stern  law  peals  forth  its  clarion  sound, 

His  doom  is  sealed,  incurable  his  wound. 

The  curse  decreed  by  Heaven  for  wicked  Cain 

Rests  on  his  head  and  with  his  seed  remain  ; 

On  all  the  line  the  pois'uous  shafts  descend, 

Nor  powers  of  earth  can  dodge,  nor  Heaven  forefend. 

His  future  years  loom  dark  with  threatening  clouds  ; 

Oppression,  toil,  and  woes  his  present  life  enshrouds. 

Ten  thousand  whispering  tongues  his  dee^ls  proclaim, 

Ten  thousand  more  exaggerate  the  same ; 

With  light'ning  speed  the  startling  rumor  flies, 

Grows  on  the  tongue,  and  swells  to  'normous  size. 

His  past  misdeeds  alone  are  held  to  view. 

His  virtues  vanish  like  the  morning  dew. 

The  generous  heart  that  once  with  passion  burned 

Has  changed  to  gall  and  misanthropic  turned. 

No  more  his  thoughts  to  noble  deeds  aspire ; 

Quenched  is  his  thirst,  and  quenched  the  vital  fire, 

As  into  space  the  subtle  vapors  roll, 

And  on  the  gales  they  waft  from  pole  to  pole. 

So  flees  ambition  from  the  captive  soul. 

This  vital  spark  that  many  ills  can  cure, 

Nor  bonds,  nor  chains,  nor  shackles  will  endure ; 

With  proud  disdain  it  takes  its  airy  flight. 

And  leaves  its  victim  in  the  realms  of  night. 

Subject  to  every  scheming  demagogue  that  rules, — 

Few  wise,  all  selfish,  some  famous  fools. 

Compelled  witli  grovling  swine  their  food   to  share. 
By  turns  compelled  a  heavier  yoke  to  wear. 
To  rigid  rules  and  artful  laws  a  prey ; 
And  greedy  wolves,  more  subtle  yet  than  they. 
Fight  for  his  carcass  and  his  steps  waylay. 
Designing  men  his  bootless  toil  subserves. 
Consume  his  flesh,  and  feast  upon  his  nerves. 
His  shattered  frame  like  sand  they  sift  for  gold. 
His  mind  purturbed  like  melting  wax  they  mold. 
A  floating  wreck,  upon  the  tide  he  's  borne. 
Their  fields  to  replenish  and  their  homes  adorn. 

Poor,  hapless  wretch  !  fell  victim  of  despair  ! 
No  brother's  arm  his  irksome  task  to  share. 
No  kindred  eye  to  shed  a  genial  ray, 
No  sister's  hand  to  wipe  the  tears  away ; 
No  spouse  for  him  the  bread  and  milk  prepare. 
No  fairy  forms  to  sport  around  his  chair. 

12 


180  The  Criminal  Classes 


Thus  uncondoled  the  seasons  wax  and  wane, 
With  nerves  unstrung  and  half  distracted  brain, 
And  bones  prepared  to  lay  upon  the  shelf, 
A  ghastly  image  of  his  former  self. 
His  exile  past,  he  coldly  bids  farewell 
To  callous  hearts,  where  love  nor  piiy  dwell. 
Impoverished  and  penniless,  he  's  rashly  hurled 
Upon  the  cold  sympathies  of'  a  selfish  world  ; 
His  works  forgotten,  but  on  scrolls  of  shame 
Bemains  a  lingering  transcript  of  his  name. 

With  joy  elate,  like  birds  that  'scape  the  cage, 

A  thousand  thoughts  his  raptured  soul  engage. 

Freed  from  the  raging  hell  he  left  behind, 

A  thousand  themes  perplex  his  wand'ring  mind. 

New  scenes  enchanr,  new  music  charms  the  ear, 

The  birds  sing  sweet,  the  bells  peal  loud  and  clear. 

New  sights  allure,  and  strike  the  usual  ray. 

And  flood  his  wand'ring  orbs  with  sudden  day. 

Not  certain  quite  which  course  to  take  or  way  to  go, 

He  leaps  triumphant  like  the  bounding  roe. 

Deluded  wretch !  how  brief  his  ravished  joy  ! 

How  vague  the  fancies  that  his  thoughts  employ. 

Short  is  his  bliss  ;  he  feels  the  fatal  wound. 

The  vipers  tooth  that  pins  him  to  the  ground  ; 

The  scoffing  world  his  meager  wants  deny 

And  on  the  culprit  fix  a  vengeful  eye. 

Imperious  souls  that  never  learn  to  weep. 

Nor  at  the  shrines  a  midnight  vigil  keep  ; 

With  hearts  too  hard  to  melt  at  others'  woe 

Or  on  the  poor  a  single  tear  bestow. 

Too  stiff  to  bend,  too  great  and  wise  to  mourn. 

Point  at  the  offender  with  malicious  scorn  : 

"Lo !  that  's  the  man  who  once,  with  fetters  bound, 

In  Dayton  court,  of  theft  was  guilty  found. 

In  yonder  walls  and  mighty  institution 

He  paid  a  just  and  righteous  retribution. 

His  clumsy  frame  reflects  a  knavish  cast — ■ 

How  strange  his  looks  with  other  men  contrast ! 

The  whole  configuration  of  his  head 

Denotes  how  basely  born,  how  meanly  bred  ; 

His  snakish  eyes  a  cursed  rogue  betrays — 

How  odd  his  gait,  how  sinister  his  ways  ! 

His  apish  nose  denotes  his  want  of  pluck  : 

Behold  his  ears, — how  far  behind  they  're  stuck ! 

How  coarse  his  hair  I    Now  listen  at  his  brogue — 

Lord,  but  I  hate  a  thief  and  spurn  a  rogue  !" 


Causes  and  Cures  187 

Whispers  are  heard,  and  curses  here  and  there, 

And  every  tattling  tongue  supplies  its  share. 

Through  every  street  the  baleful  malice  flies, 

And  meets  the  culprit  with  a  sad  surprise. 

Loud  and  more  loud  the  threatening  mischief  grows  ; 

First  taunts,  then  threats,  and  ends  in  cruel  blows.* 

By  threats  and  blows  at  length  compelled  to  yield. 

He  drags  his  battered  carcass  from  the  field. 

What  with  his  wants,  and  what  with  broken  heart, 

And  sorrowing  breast,  reluctant  to  depart ; 

With  wounded  pride  to  distant  lands  he  roves, 

Still  glancing  backward  to  his  native  groves — 

A  poor,  lone  wanderer  through  a  trackle-ss  wild. 

His  home  a  ruin  and  his  name  defiled  ; 

His  goods  by  lawless  creditors  distrained. 

His  sisters  tarnished  and  his  mother  pained : 

Marked  with  a  brand  that'  naught  but  death  can  fade. 

His  children  shunned  and  worse  than  orphans   made. 

The  doting  wife  that  nestled  by  his  side 

Ignores  his  name  and  scorns  to  be  his  bride. 

To  him  the  world  is  but  one  dark  abyss. 

No  peace,  no  joy,  and  no  domestic  bliss. 

Surging  within  his  breast  are  waves  that  naught  can  calm ; 

For  him  the  opening  buds  give  forth  no  balm. 

Chill  seem  the  dews,  and  cold  the  summer  showers. 

Not  bright  the  sun  nor  sweet  the  morning  flowers. 

In  vain  for  him  the  rose  and  lily  bloom ; 

He  flnds  redress  alone  within  the  tomb ; 

Death,  only  death,  can  soothe  his  aching  breast 

And  waft  his  spirit  to  a  land  of  rest. 

"'Should  the  critical  and  not  very  well  informed  reader  think  this  picture 
caricatured  and  overdrawn,  by  referring  to  the  records  of  the  Tuscarawas 
County  Court  of  January,  1874,  he  will  find  there  was  a  discharged  con- 
vict. In  or  near  the  village  of  Rogersville  of  said  county,  brutally  mur- 
dered without  cause  or  provocation,  and  the  offenders  (four  or  "five  in 
number)  arrested,  put  through  a  formal  examination,  and  exonerated 
from  all  blame,  on  the  very  substantial  plea  that  "the  murdered  man  had 
served  three  terms  in  the  penitentiary."  Our  good  philanthropists  call 
this  an  isolated  case.  Let  them  cherish  the  idea  if  it  saves  them  the  ex- 
pense of  a  blush.  Had  I  space  and  leisure  at  command,  I  could  mention 
a  score  of  well-authenticated  cases  in  which  discharged  convicts  were 
assaulted  by  a  furious  mob  and  compelled  to  leave  the  town,  although 
their  conduct  was  unexceptionable.  All  this  in  a  land  of  Bibles  and 
boasted  civilization,  where  statesmen  are  exulting  over  their  benign  in- 
stitutions, and  parading  their  sympathies  for  the  prisoner;  and  preach- 
ers shouting,  "Glory,  hallelujah!  "  with  tears  of  gladness,  that  the  mil- 
lennium is  about  to  dawn,  and  the  long-predicted  period  at  hand  when 
"the  wolf  shall  dwell  with  the  lamb,  and  the  leopard  shall  lie  down  with 
the  kid,  and  the  lion  eat  straw  like  the  ox." 


188  The  Criminal  Classes 


LXIX. 
Sympathy. 

By  Julius  Ring,  O.  P.,  No.  14G4G. 

Men  who,  for  sins  committed,  in  prison  penance  do, 

Convicts  tliough  they  are,  still  their  hearts  are  large  and  true. 

See  how  quick  the  appeal  is  answered,  when  suffering  needs  their 

aid. 
How  quick  to  show  their  sympathy,  when  once  a  call  is  made. 

Even  they,  tho'  rough  and  sinful,  still  show  they  have  a  soul ; 
Tho'  suffering  and  hardened,  you  may  see  the  teardrops  roll. 
Perhaps  some  thought  of  mother  and  of  happy  bygoue  days. 
Like  a  golden,  fitful  shadow,  across  their  memory  plays. 

They   have  known   the   anguish   of  a   heart   that  's  crushed   aud 

bruised ; 
They  have  felt  repeutance,  while  over  sins  they  mused. 
Perhaps  you  think  they  're  hardened  to  whisperings  so  mild. 
But  remember  that,  not  long  ago,  they,  too,  were  called  "My  child." 

What  matter  if  they  formerly  took  part  in  sin  and  strife? 
It  needs  only  a  little  faith  to  gain  eternal  life. 
What  matter  if  they  formerly  took  part  in  sin  and  strike? 
They  know  that  for  repenting  His  love  they  will  recdve. 

Now  tell  it  to  the  outside  world,  for  they  must  also  know 
That  some  of  us  are  trying  for  a  new  harvest  to  sow. 
Oh,  let  the  crop  he  golden,  blessed  with  God's  holy  love. 
And  when  we  leave  this  earthly  home  go  to  that  one  above. 
Columbus,  Ohio. 


Causes  and  Cures  189 


LXX. 

Eemaekable  Cases. 

All  Escaped  Man  Is  Returned  to  Prison  after  Twenty-three  Years. 

In  jMay,  1856,  llichard  Cassibone  was  convicted  of  kill- 
ing a  man  named  Bill  Hyde,  of  Muskingum  County,  and 
sentenced  to  six  years  in  the  penitentiary.  He,  with  five 
others,  broke  jail,  and,  escaping  to  the  hills  of  Vinton 
County,  he  settled  down  under  the  assumed  name  of  Isaac 
Brown.  When  the  war  broke  out,  he  enlisted  in  the  Eigh- 
teenth 0.  V.  I.,  under  the  above  name,  and,  during  his 
three  years'  service,  saw  many  hard  fights.  His  health  was 
ruined  in  the  "war,  and  he  is  now  a  pensioner,  getting  about 
twenty-four  dollars  per  month.  At  the  close  of  the  war, 
he  returned  to  Ohio  and  settled  near  Chillicothe,  where  he 
was  regarded  as  a  quiet  and  unobtrusive  citizen  until  his 
identity  was  marie  known.  He  was  brought  to  the  peni- 
tentiary, put  in  stripes,  and  initiated  into  prison  life.  He 
was  so  weak  and  feeble  that  he  could  scarcely  hold  up  his 
head.  He  gave  a  detailed  account  of  the  circumstances 
which  led  to  his  killing  Hyde,  his  after  life,  and  his  pres- 
ent unhappy  condition.  He  stated  that  the  crime  and 
conviction  had  haunted  him  for  a  fcAV  years,  but  of  late 
he  had  felt  secure,  and  it  appeared  more  as  a  dream  of  the 
past.    He  had  a  wife  and  children  living. 

Eobert  Donley,  number  11507,  voluntarily  returned 
after  an  absence  of  two  years.  Having  served  three  years 
before  his  escape,  he  had  about  one  year  yet  to  serve.  On 
his  return,  he  said :     "I  come,  voluntarily,  to  serve  the 


190  The  Criminal  Classes 

remainder  of  my  time,  and  go  out  a  free  man.  I  came  in 
the  night,  so  as  to  prevent  any  one  recognizing  me,  and 
claiming  tlie  reward,  that  I  might  save  it  for  the  State.  I 
did  not  feel  free  outside." 


Causes  and  Cures  191 


LXXI. 

Melody  of  Tears. 

{From  a  prisoner's  standpoint.) 

When  the  silent,  restful  darkness, 

At  the  close  of  each  sad  day, 
To  the  couvict's  prison  Labor 

Brings  a  brief  but  welcome  stay. 
Back  his  troubled  memory  wanders 

To  the  scenes  of  other  years — • 
To  the  home  of  happy  childhood. 

With  its  many  hopes  and  fears. 

Then  again  upon  the  threshold    ■ 

Of  our  earthly  lives  we  stand, 
And  discern  the  future  glowing 

Like  the  Hebrew's  promised  land, 
Witli  the  hopes  of  coming  manhood 

Putting  forth  their  fragile  leaf. 
Like  the  fairest  blooms  of  summer. 

And,  alas !  like  them  as  brief  I 

With  a  shudder  we  remember 

All  that  then  we  meant  to  be — 
On  life's  battle-field  a  hero, 

Alwajs  crowned  with  victory  ; 
But,  discredited  and  beaten. 

We  were  quickly  forced  to  yield. 
With  the  battle  not  yet  over. 

Wounded,  bleeding  on  the  field ! 

On  our  brow  no  crown  of  laurel, 

We  can  claim  no  honors  won ; 
Not  for  us  the  song  of  triumph. 

When  the  long,  sad  day  is  done. 
Other  hands  have  reaped  the  harvest 

That  we  hoped  some  time  to  reap ; 
Other  feet  have  gained  the  summit 

Of  the  hill  we  found  too  steep  I 

Others  gather  sweetest  flowers, 
Blooming  all  along  their  way  ; 


192  2'he  Criminal  Classes 

We  have  but  the  thorns  to  pierce  us, 

(Jii  our  journey,  day  by  day  ; 
Others  sing  the  song  of  gladness, 

All  life's  peaceful,  happy  years; 
^^  hile  we  chant  the  dirge  of  sadness — 

Chorded  melody  of  tears ! 

Tho'  at  times  the  kindly  sunshine 

Briefly  dazzles,  't  will  not  last ; 
Prison  gloom  can  never  brighten, 

With  all  hoi'e  of  freedom  past. 
Heeded  not  the  orphan's  pleading. 

Mother's  tears  cannot  atone, 
Wives  come  vainly  interceding; 

Human  hearts  seem  turned  to  stone  I 

Soon  Heaven's  high  court  will  open — 

AVho  will  cry  for  mercy  then'/ 
Earthly  rulers — judge  and  jury. 

They  who  crushed  their  fellow-men  I 
Mercy?    Nay  !    Like  Dives  they  '11  cower 

At  the  Judge's  just  decree : 
"No  mercy  hast  thou  shown  in  power. 

No  mercy  canst  thou  claim  from  me  I"* 

Oft  we  feel  the  depth  of  sorrow. 

Looking  back  upon  each  scene. 
While  i-emorse,  in  cruel  whisper, 

Tells  of  all  that  might  have  been. 
For  a  moment  then  true  manhood 

Tries  to  put  the  sorrow  by  ; 
Strives  to  crush  the  bitter  anguish 

And  repel  the  rising  sigh  !        • 

Till  some  holy  resolution 

Makes  us  hope  the  past  forgiven  ; 
Ended  earthly  retribution. 

Prayerful  eyes  upturned  to  heaven. 
Then  once  more  we  set  our  faces 

Sternly  toward  the  battle  front; 
Brace  anew  each  nerve  and  muscle 

For  the  daily  prison  brunt. 

Hopeless!  with  success  or  failure 
We  have  nothing  now  to  do ; 
Doomed  to  bear  life's  cruel  burden 

All  the  bitter  journey  through.  — A  Convict. 

*'"For  he  shall  have  judgment  without  mercy, 
that  hath  showed  no  mercy"  (James  2 :  13). 


Causes  and  Cures  193 


LXXII. 

Written  1878-SO. 

Here  is  a  contribution  in  rhyme  added  to  the  circulat- 
ing original  literature  of  the  Ohio  Penitentiary  by  a  convict 
evidently  displeased  with  his  fare: 

CHEESE. 

I  'm  sitting  in  my  prison  cell ; 

It  is  to  me  an  earthly  hell. 

I  cannot  help  but  cough  and  sneeze, 

'Cause  I  've  been  eating  rotten  cheese. 

We  get  that  cheese  just  once  a  week ; 
It  's  almost  strong  enough  to  creep, 
I;ike  chloroform,  it  turns  your  head, 
And  strong  enough  to  raise  the  dead. 

That  lively  cheese  I  Ml  ne'er  forget, 
About  it  I  will  ever  fret. 
Sad  thoughts  will  rise  whene'er  I  sneeze, 
Which  calls  to  mind  that  rotten  cheese. 


194  The  Criminal  Classes 


LXXIII. 

An"  Ackostic. 
(To  D.  B.  Miller.) 

BY    STQART    C.    ROSS,    O.    P. 

Deal  bountifully  with  thy  servant,  that  I  may  live,  and  keep  thy 

word. 
Remove  from  me  reproacli  and  contempt,  for  I  have  kept  thy  testi- 
monies. 
Make  me  to  understand  the  way  of  thy  precepts ;  so  shall  I  talk  of 

thy  wondrous  works. 
I  have  chosen  the  way  of  truth  ;  thy  judgments  have  I  laid  before 

me. 
Let  thy  mercies  come  also  unto  me,   O  Lord,  even  thy  salvation, 

according  to  thy  word. 
Let  those  that  fear  thee  turn  unto  me,  and  those  that  have  known 

thy  testimonies. 
Except  the  Lord  build  the  house,  they  labor  in  vain  that  build  it ; 

except  the  Lord  keep  the  city,  the  watchman  waketh  but  in 

vain. 
Rivers  of  waters  run  down  mine  eyes,  because  they  keep  not  thy 

law. 
Columbus,  Ohio,  January  19,  1S81. 

Taken  from  the  Psalms  of  David. 


Causes  and  Cures  195 


LXXIV. 

The  Humming-Bird. 

When  this  was  written  one  of  the  methods  of  punish- 
ment was  in  the  application  of  electricity.  The  punish- 
ment was  severe,  and  of  questionable  propriety.  By  an 
order  of  Noah  Thomas,  warden,  a  noble-hearted  man,  it 
was  discontinued.  The  men  gave  it  the  name,  "Humming- 
Bird." 

This  "hummer"  is  a  little  bird,  the  worst  you  've  ever  seen, 
And  if  you  don't  believe  it,  make  a  call  on  Mr.  Dean ; 
Now  when  you  go  to  see  this  "bird,"  they  strip  you  to  the  skin, 
And  down  into  the  little  tub  they  gently  drop  you  in. 

Your  hands  are  cuffed  behind  your  back,  your  eyes  are  bandaged 

tight. 
And  when  the  bird  begins  to  hum,  you  yell  with  all  your  might ; 
When  your  courage  is  almost  failing  and  your  heart  begins  to  flop. 
Then  by  a  sign  from  some  one  "sailing,"  this  bird  will  always  stop. 

This  little  bird  will  not  let  you  go  for  money  or  for  love. 
But  will  pounce  right  down  upon  you  like  lightning  from  above. 
And  when  this  bird  begins  to  hum,  it  will  almost  make  you  say, 
"Please  'let  up,'  good  little  bird,  make  your  haste  and  fly  away." 

You    have    heard    of    the    American    eagle    with    its    loud,    terrific 

screams : 
But  this  little  "bird"  is  the  king  of  all,  this  little  bird  of  Dean's. 


196  The  Criminal  Classes 


LXXV. 

Exciting  Scene  ix  Prison  Chapel,  Ohio  Peniten- 
tiary, :\[ay  18,  1881. 

Attempt  to  Assassinate  Deputj-  Warden  Dean — A  Note  Dropped 
on  the  Bible — Religious  Services  Disturbed — Would-be  Assas- 
sin Taken. 

Augustus  Canton,  a  Cincinnati  convict  with  a  vicious 
prison  record,  conceived  a  deadly  desire  for  revenge  upon 
Deputy  Warden  Dean,  and  assaulted  him  in  the  dining- 
room,  and  would  have  killed  him  but  for  the  deputy's  quick 
movements.  Cauton's  enmity  seems  to  have  been  caused 
by  his  frequent  punishment  and  loss  of  time  for  infrac- 
tions of  the  rules. 

During  the  former  administration.  Canton  was  set  back 
seventeen  times  for  bad  conduct,  and  lost  eighty-one  days 
under  that  administration.  He  had  been  set  back  only  once 
under  the  present  administration;  that  was  for  the  assault 
on  Mr.  Dean.  The  directors  took  from  him  one  hundred 
and  thirty  days,  all  he  had  gained.  Had  his  record  been 
good,  he  would  he  out  now. 

At  the  chapel  exercises,  the  platform  was  occupied  by 
Warden  Thomas,  Deputy  Dean,  and  Assistant  Deputy 
Parsons,  together  with  visitors,  including  several  meml)ers 
of  the  Legislature.  The  visitors  were  seated  behind  the 
chaplain's  desk. 

During  the  opening  prayer  Canton  motioned  to  the 
guard  that  he  wanted  to  go  out.  The  guard  would  not 
lake  him  out  then,  but  he  was  so  persistent  in  his  calls  that 
as  soon  as  the  prayer  was  concluded  the  guard  complied. 
He  passed  out  the  door  on  one  side  of  the  chapel  very 


Causes  and  Cures  197 

quietly  and  then  made  a  dash.  Kunning  around  one  side  of 
the  building,  he  rushed  into  the  chapel  and  right  up  on 
the  platform,  as  the  chaplain  was  about  to  begin  his  dis- 
course. Canton  dropped  a  piece  of  brown  paper  on  the 
open  Bible  before  the  chaplain,  exclaiming,  "There  is  my 
apolog}'-  for  what  I  'm  going  to  do."  Then  he  turned 
around,  pointed  to  the  warden,  and  said,  "They  want  to 
murder  me  for  the  sake  of  this  man."  He  was  apparently 
on  the  point  of  making  a  dash  at  the  warden,  when  the 
latter  grabbed  him  with  his  only  hand.  The  one-armed 
visitors'  conductor  also  seized  hold  of  him,  and  together 
they  held  the  desperate  fellow  until  four  or  five  guards 
came  up  and  marched  him  off  to  close  confinement. 

The  whole  affair  occurred  in  a  minute  of  time,  almost, 
but  it  was  sufficient  to  create  intense  excitement  and  con- 
fusion, which  was  soon  allayed,  after  Canton  had  been 
safely  removed,  \yy  the  ui)liftGd  hand  of  the  chaplain. 

After  the  murderous  fellow  was  taken  out  of  the  chapel,, 
he  was  searched,  and  a  pair  of  sharp-pointed  shears  about 
a  foot  in  length  found  on  his  person.  It  is  evident  that  he 
intended  to  kill  somebody. 

The  note  dropped  on  the  Bible  was  as  follows : 

Rev.  Mr.  Miller. 

Sir  :  .Appreciating  your  interest  for  the  welfare  and  good  of 
the  prisoners,  and  for  me  personally,  I  deem  it  my  duty  to  state 
that  a  circumstance  may  occur  to  cause  you  annoyance.  To  show 
you  my  respect  and  that  I  regretted  to  do  so,  I  make  this  state- 
ment. Necessity  prevents  me,  or  I  would  act  otherwise.  Hoping 
you  will  not  judge  me  harshly,  respectfully,  Gi-s  Caxton. 


198  The  Criminal  Classes 


LXXVI. 

Turn  Your  Glasses  Down. 


Here  is  a  poem  the  origin  of  which  1  am  unable  to  give. 
I  had  it,  however,  on  file  with  prison  clippings,  and  sup- 
pose it  comes  through  that  source.  I  give  it  because  of  its 
good  suggestions : 


TURN   YOUR  GLASSES   DOWN. 

Tnm  your  glasses  clown,  boys, 

Turu  your  glasses  down, 
AMien  with  sparkling  liquors 

Men  the  banquet  crown, 
Though  the  smile  once  friendly 

Changes  to  a  frown, 
Turn  your  glasses  down,  boys, 

Turn  your  glasses  down  ! 

Lest  the  tempter  win  you, 

In  an  evil  hour, 
Lest  he  overcome  you 

By  his  subtle  power, 
Lest  a  draught  seductive 

Resolution  drown. 
Turn  your  glasses  down,  boys, 

Turn  your  glasses  down  ! 

Joyful  be  the  laughter. 

Pure  the  words  that  fall 
From  the  lips  of  comrades 

In  the  festive  hall ! 
That  no  crime  nor  folly 

May  the  banquet  crown, 
Turn  your  glasses  down,  boys. 

Turn  your  glasses  down  ! 

If  among  the  nolde 

Place  you  'd  surely  win. 
If  you  would  not  wander 

Into  paths  of  sin. 


Causes  and  Cures  199 


If  you  value  virtue, 

Honor  and  renown, 
Turn  your  glasses  down,  boys, 

Turn  your  glasses  down  ! 

While  your  eyes  are  beaming 

With  the  light  of  youth. 
While  your  heart  is  earnest 

Seeking  for  the  truth. 
While  your  cheeks  are  ruddy, 

And  your  locks  are  brown, 
Turn  your  glasses  down,  boys, 

Turn  j'onr  glasses  down  I 

Prove  yourself  heroic ; 

Dare  to  take  your  stand 
With  the  self-devoted. 

To  redeem  the  land  ; 
On  the  proifered  tipple 

Ne'er  forget  to  frown  ; 
Turn  your  glasses  down,  boys, 

Turn  your  glasses  down  ! 


200  The  Criminal  Classes 


LXXVIJ. 

Poetical  Correspoxdexce  Betweex  a  Convict  axd  the 

PuisoN  Clerk,  or  Bookkeeper,  at  Ohio 

Penitentiary. 

The  law  of  the  State  provides  that  for  good  conduct 
prisoners  shall  receive  credit  on  their  time  of  service,  and 
thereby  be  released  in  advance  of  the  date  to  which  they 
must  otherwise  serve.  This  credit,  however,  may  be  for- 
feited by  subsequent  violations  of  rules,  at  the  discretion 
of  the  board  of  directors.  Each  month  on  the  Sabbath 
following  the  monthly  meeting  of  the  board  of  directors 
the  clerk  reads  the  corrected  list  of  all  entitled  to  freedom 
during  the  succeeding  month.  In  this  case  the  prisoner's 
accounting  of  his  time  and  that  of  the  bookkeeper's,  who 
makes  up  his  account  from  the  reports  of  the  deputy 
warden,  were  in  disagreement,  therefore  the  controversy. 

A   POETIC    MESSAGE. 

To  Mr.  Reeves,  Clerk. 
Dear  Sir  : 

The  uudersigned,  with  pen  in  hand, 
And  pleutj-  of  words  at  his  command, 
Suspends  his  toil  and  quits  his  work, 
To  write  a  message  to  the  clerk. 
And,  much  preferring  rhyme  to  prose. 
In  verse  I  shall  my  wants  disclose ; 
In  scrawls,  but  easy  quite  to  trace, 
I  '11  file  a  statement  of  ray  case. 

To  speak  quite  plain,  I  think  that  I 
Ha\e  been  neglected  and  passed  by. 
While  you  your  last  two  lists  have  read, 
I  hearkened  and  li.sten'd  with  all  heed  ; 
But  hearkened  and  listened  all  in  vain. 
For  neither  did  my  name  contain. 


Causes  and  Cures  201 

Bj'  some  mishap  my  name  you  've  missed, 

Forsooth,  't  was  uot  upon  the  list. 

i[y  number  's  ten  thousand  and  tifty-nine  ; 

Beliold  the  digits  and  tlie  sign  10050 ; 

In  this  there  no  mistake  can  be. 

And  further  down  my  name  you  'II  see. 

'T  was  seventy-four,  that  fatal  year, 
As  by  your  records  will  appear, 
And  in  September,  the  2Sth  day, 
When  in  these  walLs  I  chanted  to  stray. 
I  'm  mighty  anxious,  long  have  been. 
To  find  the  hole  where  I  got  in ; 
I  've  been  detained  nigh  seven  years, 
Which  three  times  seven  most  appears. 
INIy  sentence  eight  years  was  at  best ; 
The  judge  who  gave  it  's  now  at  rest — 
Laid  down  his  arms  and  quit  his  post, 
And  gone  to  join  the  heavenly  host. 
Or  else  the  host  of  hell  below, 
The  place  that  he  'd  most  likely  go. 

Some  seventy  days  or  more  I  lost, 
By  Ijeing  too  severely  l)ossed. 
When  G.  S.  Innis  and  Warden  Grove 
Their  nets  for  catching  suckers  wove ; 
AYhen  we  like  brutes  were  made  to  bow. 
And  rules  more  stringent  were  than  now  ; 
And  all  a  haggard  visage  wore. 
And  men  were  punished  by  the  score. 

The  time  I  've  forfeited  and  lost 
I  now  have  served,  and  paid  the  cost, 
Including  all.     It  's  plain  as  day, 
RIy  time  should  have  exi)ired  in  May. 
The  moons  of  May  waxed  full,  and  waned. 
And  yet  I  found  myself  detained ; 
June  past  the  apex  now  has  flew, 
Still  I  my  wonted  way  pursue. 
In  ignominious  stripes  arrayed. 
When  I  atoupinent  full  have  made. 
Pray  tell  me,  sir,  how  this  can  be, 
That  we  in  figures  don't  agree. 

Soon  as  these  pithy  lines  you  've  scanned. 
Your  prison  docket  then  expand. 
And  when  my  record  there  you  spy. 
Compute  the  same,  and  please  reply. 


13 


202  The  Criniinal  Classes 

A  message  send  that  will  contain 
The  whys  and  wherefores — make  it  plain  ; 
State  in  explicit  terms,  and  clear, 
AVhen  I  mv  barqne  may  homeward  steer ; 
And  view  once  more  the  vine-clad  hills, 
The  fertile  fields  and  inirling  rills! 
Revive  emotions  felt  of  yore. 
Old  friends  renew,  cold  hearts  restore, 
That  once  my  raptured  boyhood  knew. 
When  days  were  bright  and  friends  not  few. 
Your  obedient  servant, 
Ohio  Penitentiary.  Henry  Cole,  10059. 

THE   clerk's   reply. 

Mr.  Henry  Cole,  10059,  O.  P. 

Sir: 

This  morning  I  received  your  rhyme, 

Relative  to  your  short  time  ; 

And.  after  having  read  it  through. 

Not  having  very  much  to  do, 

I  hied  me  to  the  records  quick. 

And  .shai-pened  up  my  leaden  stick  ; 

And  at  once  began  to  rack  my  brain 

How  I  could  explain  and  make  things  plain. 

I  turned  to  the  ninety-seventh  page 

Of  the  record  that  is  sere  with  age. 

And  found  among  that  sad  enroll 

The  name  and  crime  of  Henry  Cole  : 

And  that  you  came  here,  as  you  remember. 

On  the  twenty-eighth  day  of  September, 

And  for  eight  years  from  that  day 

It  was  the  edict  that  you  must  stay; 

And.  your  full  sentence  all  to  make. 

Till  eighteen  hundred  eighty-two  will  take. 

Until  September,  twenty-fifth  day, 

Unless  you  sooner  get  away. 

Now,  by  the  Legislature's  wise  decree, 

A  man  may  shorten  hi.s  time  and  thus  be  free. 

He  who  can  from  infractions  of  rules  refrain 

Will  be  rewarded  by  a  monthly  gain. 

And  thus  view  once  more  the  vine-clad  hills, 

The  fertile  fields,  the  purling  rills. 

And  sooner  meet  his  old-time  friends. 

And  for  his  failings  make  amends, 

And  join  in  i>leasures  as  of  yore. 

To  "go  thy  way  and  sin  no  more." 


Causes  and  Cures  203 

But  he  who  by  "bosses"  will  not  be  bossed 

Finds  to  his  sorrow  his  good  time  lost. 

This  seems  to  be  the  case  with  you. 

For,  as  the  record  now  I  view, 

Like  a  battle  hero,  full  of  scars. 

Their  frequency  the  whole  page  mars ; 

And,  more  or  less,  through  all  the  years 

Full  many  a  scratch  'gainst  you  appears. 

You  seem  to  have  been  in  the  fix 

Of  tliose  who  "kick  against  the  pricks." 

But,  to  help  you  out  of  your  vexation, 

I  '11  now  begin  mj-  exi)lanation. 

Under  the  old  rules  which  you  dejilore 

You  could  gain  five  hundred  days — no  more. 

But  recent  time,  Ijeing  more  humane. 

Would  have  given  you  much  larger  gain; 

And  had  you  all  your  good  time  gained. 

You  would  not  now  here  have  remained. 

But  as  it  is,  it  is  too  late  : 

Your  gain  is  but  four  thirty-eight, 

And  while  your  lot  I  do  deplore, 

I  cannot  make  it  any  more. 

So  in  this  prison  you  must  lie 

Until  the  thirteenth  of  .Tuly. 

I  should  be  glad  if  this  were  all ; 

I  cannot  cease,  though  it  you  appal, 

Foi",  from  the  time  by  conduct  won, 

Mu.st  be  deducted  one  forty-one. 

The  number  of  days  that  you  have  lost 

Because  you  would  not  be  bossed. 

Will  fix  the  day  that  you  are  free, 

Novemler  the  nineteenth.     Ah,  me! 

I  'd  make  this  better  if  I  could, 

But  can  no  better  if  I  would  ; 

But.  to  help  you  out,  this  much  I  '11  do, 

I  '11  give  some  good  advice  to  you  : 

When  the  board  next  do  meet. 

You  hie  to  them,  and  there  intreat. 

As  you  intend  to  sin  no  more. 

Tltat  they  your  lost  time  restore. 

Plead  as  only  man  can  plead 

Whose  boon  is  liberty.     You  '11  succeed. 

T  close  by  hoping  that  in  .July 

I  can  bid  you  a  long  good-by. 

Sympathetically  yours, 

S.  L.  Reeves,  Cleric  O.  P. 


204  lliH  Criminal  Classes 


LXXVIII: 

Gleanixgs  from  the  Bible. 

Jesus  Christ  he  is  the  chief  corner-stone ; 

Faith  built  on  otiier  founchitious  will  surely  fall ; 
Let  us  look  to  that  light  which  so  resplendently  shone 

And  caused  the  conversion  of  blessed  Saint  Paul. 

Sinners  are  the  same  now  as  they  have  been  of  old  ; 

They  still  continue  to  sin,  revile,  and  blaspheme; 
Offenses  will  come,  as  our  Savior  foretold. 

But  woe  unto  them  who  dishonor  his  name. 

Their  eyes  they  are  blind  and  they  cannot  see, 
Nor  will  they  acknowledge  or  worship  their  God; 

They  are  like  the  Scribes  and  the  proud  Pharisee. 
Nor  will  they  huml)le  themselves  under  his  rod. 

Let  us  trim  our  lamps  while  there  is  light : 

The  lamps  of  our  lives,  the  good  spirit  within, 

\^'ith  the  oil  of  salvation,  prayers  day  and  night. 
It  will  shield  from  temptation  and  keep  us  from  sin. 

In  the  eighteenth  chapter  of  Ezekiel  you  will  find 
The  most  gracious  promise  l)y  Him  who  cannot  lie ; 

In  his  almighty  mercy  he  wishes  to  save  all  mankind; 
There  he  says,  "Uepent  ye.  repent  ye,  why  will  you  die?" 

— A  Prisoner. 


Causes  and  Cures  205 


LXXIX. 

An  Interview  Between  Chaplain  and  Prisoner. 

At  a  Prayer-Meeting — God's  Love  to  Man,  Evidences  of — A  Last 
Sabbath  in  Prison — On  a  Desert — A  Dream  of  Mother. 

One  Sabbath  morning,  the  theme  in  the  prisoners^ 
prayer-meeting  in  the  penitentiary  chapel  was  "God's  love 
to  man,  evidences  of."  Quite  a  number  had  spoken,  when 
George  Wilson,  a  prisoner  for  two  years,  a  man  over  fifty 
years  of  age,  arose  and  eloquently  addressed  the  men  on 
the  theme,  but  spoke  especially  of  the  evidences  of  the 
existence  and  love  of  God  as  seen  in  nature.  He  urged 
upon  his  fellow-prisoners  the  importance  of  loving  and 
serving  God,  and  said,  "I  go  out  from  you  this  week,  and 
cannot  consent  to  go  without  speaking  to  you  at  this  time 
on  this  subject."  His  address  was  listened  to  with  marked 
attention,  and  had  a  good  effect  upon  all  present. 

In  the  afternoon  of  that  day,  I  visited  him  in  his  cell, 
and  had  an  interesting  interview  with  him,  the  principal 
part  of  Avhich  Avas  as  follows : 

Chaplain :  "Mr.  Wilson,  your  speech  this  morning  im- 
pressed me  with  the  conviction  that  you  have  seen  better 
days  and  been  educated  for  a  higher  sphere  and  more 
honorable  calling  than  that  of  a  criminal." 

Wilson :  "Yes,  sir ;  I  was  reared  in  a  Christian  home  by 
devout  parents,  members  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  and 
educated  at  Iron  City,  in  Pcnn  Avenue  School.  My  father 
died  in  18fi3." 

Chaplain  :    "Were  you  ever  married  ?" 

Wilson :  "Yes,  sir,  and  now  have  a  son  occupying  a  good 
business  position  in  Pennsylvania.    My  wife  died  in  1869. 


20G  The  Criminal  Classes 

I  am  sorry  to  say  that,  through  no  fault  of  hers,  we  parted^ 
some  years  before  she  died.    It  was  all  my  fault." 

Chaplain:  "What  kind  of  a  life  have  you  led  in  the 
past  ?'"' 

Wilson:  ''Principally  a  roving  life.  I  have  traveled 
over  the  entire  western  portion  of  the  United  States,  and 
much  in  other  portions  of  the  country." 

Chaplain :  "Were  you  ever  a  professing  Christian  and 
member  of  the  church?" 

Wilson:  "Xo,  sir,  never;  but  I  could  never  get  away 
from  the  conviction  that  I  should  be  such,  and,  further,  I 
have,  since  my  youth,  been  impressed  that  God  intended  me 
to  be  a  teacher  of  morals  and  religion.  This  conviction  I 
cannot  shake  off ;  for  the  past  eighteen  years  it  has  come 
to  me  with  greater  force  than  previously." 

Chaplain:  "Do  you  think  that  your  inclination  to  roam 
and  your  misfortune  is  the  result  of  your  neglect  of  what 
you  lielieved  to  lie  duty,  and  that  God  suffered  you  to  be 
thus  overtaken  because  of  your  disobedience  ?" 

Wilson:  "I  do;  and  that  it  was  only  for  my  good  and 
to  correct  me." 

Chaplain :  "When  you  go  out  from  here  is  it  your  pur- 
pose to  obey  what  you  regard  as  the  voice  of  your  God.  as 
opportunities  may  open  "r"" 

Wilson :  "It  is,  the  Lord  being  my  helper.  And,  more,  I 
expect  to  try  to  push  open  the  doors  of  opportunities  and 
pray  for  divine  aid." 

Chaplain:  "Have  you,  while  in  prison.  ('\]ierienced  any 
demoralizing  effects  of  prison  life?" 

Wilson  :     "I  have  not." 

Chaplain:  "In  your  remarks,  this  morning,  you  ex- 
pressed a  firm  belief  in  a  supreme  overruling  Providence, 
and  that  this  supreme  Governor  is  so  minute  in  his  super- 
vision of  created  objects  that  he  takes  i)articular  notice 
of  each  individual  creature.     TTave  y<Mi  h;id  any  particular 


Causes  and  Cures  207 

reasons  for  such  belief  and  satisfactory  evidences  of  such 
providential  supervision  in  your  own  personal  experi- 
ence ?'' 

Wilson :    "Yes,  in  numerous  cases.    One  I  will  give  you : 
Some  years  ago,  I,  with  three  others,  found  myself  on  the 

desert   of   H ,   thirty   miles   from   the   Kio   Grande 

Eiver,  without  'water,  in  a  perishing  condition.  In  a  some- 
what bewildered  state  from  thirst,  we  wandered  about,  in 
hopes  of  reaching  the  river.  After  Journeying  thirty-six 
hours  without  water,  fatigued  and  despairing,  we  stopped 
and  lay  down  on  the  sand  ;  not  knowing  where  we  were. 
I  slept  and  dream.ed.  In  my  dreams,  I  saw  my  mother, 
who  looked  me  in  the  face  tenderly  and  said,  'George,  re- 
member there  is  a  God.'  I  awoke.  It  was  day  dawn.  In 
sight,  within  a  few  rods,  was  that  grand  scene  of  God's 
handiwork,  the  Rio  Grande  Eiver.  If  we  had  journeyed 
on,  doul)tlegs  we  would  have  wandered  away  from  the 
river  and  perished.  I  regarded  this  at  the  time,  and  still 
regard  it  as  an  interposition  of  Providence  in  answer  to 
the  prayers  of  my  mother." 


208  The  Criminal  Classes 


LXXX. 

The  Two  Temples. 

Bj'  St.  Clair,  a  -Mau  Who  Had  Served  Several  Terms  in  Prisou- 
A  Man  Unbalanced  Beyond  Control  at  Sight  of  Horses. 

SOLOHOX'S. 

Have  you  read  the  ancient  story 

Of  Solomon's  temple  fair? 
How  it  rose  to  fame  and  glory, 

With  no  sound  of  hammer  there? 
Far  off  from  the  distant  building 

Each  beautiful  piece  was  wrought ; 
All  the  stone  and  wood  and  gilding. 

And  then  to  the  temple  brought. 
From  the  dawn  of  early  morning. 

In  silence  the  work  went  on. 
Till  the  twilight's  lengthened  warning 

Revealed  that  tlie  day  was  gone. 
Slowly,  but  grandly  the  temjjle  grew 

Into  its  beautiful  whole; 
\\'hile  not  a  sacred  precinct  knew 

The  sound  of  a  workman's  tool. 

god's. 

Now,  in  a  land  of  peace  untold, 

A  temple's  bright  walls  appear- — - 
^Jore  grand  than  Solomon's  of  old. 

And  a  thousand  times  more  dear. 
Its  chambers  all  of  polished  stone, 

And  of  beaten  gold  the  ways ; 
From  marble  hall  to  highest  dome. 

We  may  see  the  jewels'  rays ! 
Somewhere  in  this  cruel  world  l)elow, 

In  the  midst  of  its  cea.seless  din. 
Obscured  by  wickedness  and  woe, 

By  suffering  and  by  sin. 
Beautiful  stones  ai'e  now  jireitared. 

With  the  patient  worker's  skill ; 
To  perfect  them  no  pain  is  spared 


Causes  and  Cures  209 


For  the  niche  they  have  to  fill. 
Far  out  on  wilds  of  heathen  lands, 

Each  day  is  the  timber  laid 
By  those  who  toil  with  patient  hands, 

And  faith  that  is  undismayed. 
There  in  hospital's  sunny  ward 

The  couch  of  pain  upon. 
Where  labor  and  skill  again  are  stored, 

The  silent  work  goes  on. 
Beautiful  gems  are  brought  to  view. 

And  pearls  that  are  chaste  and  fair, 
By  keenest  pain  that  the  workers  knew 

In  their  days  and  nights  of  care. 
Somewhere — 't  may  be  in  dungeon  dark, 

Weighed  down  by  a  prison  chain. 
Some  trembling  hand  cuts  out  a  spark 

From  the  hard,  rough  rock  of  pain. 
And  polishes  it  for  the  temple  fair. 

By  faith,  from  the  depths  of  sin, 
So  bright  't  will  make  the  angels  stare, 

While  the  Savior  fits  it  in. 
Somewhere  in  country's  stillest  life. 

Where  nature's  bright  leaves  unfold. 
And  life  seems  free  from  care  and  strife, 

Is  worked  all  the  silk  and  gold. 
Thus  ever  and  alway.  day  by  day. 

The  unending  work  goes  on. 
While  the  Master  moves  the  blocks  away. 


210  The  Criminal  Ckisses 


J.XXXI. 

Educational  Facilitiks  ix  TiiisoNs. 

The  education  of  criminals  wliiie  incarcerated  is  one  of 
the  best  methods  for  reforming  and  helping  them.  While 
crime  does  not  always  follow  ignorance,  the  illiterate  class 
predominate  in  prison.  Touching  this  subject,  the  super- 
intendent of  the  school  in  the  Ohio  Penitentiary  recently 
said : 

"Hundreds  of  men  come  as  prisoners  to  the  penitentiary 
who  know  absolutely  nothing,  even  of  the  primary  rudi- 
ments of  the  knowledge  of  books ;  and  in  many  cases  that 
have  come  under  the  writer's  ol)servation,  men  have  been 
sent  here  having  committed  crimes  simply  because  of  their 
ignorance,  and  if  the  Ohio  Penitentiary  is  to  be  a  place  of 
reformation  as  well  as  a  j)lace  of  punishment,  what  better 
method  could  ])e  conceived  than  that  of  the  night  school? 
You  would  think  that  a  man  sent  here  for  life  would  care 
nothing  for  an  education.  Oh,  here  is  where  you  are  mis- 
taken. When  the  poor,  ignorant  prisoner  finds  himself 
shut  in  his  narrow  cell,  with  no  ojie  to  talk  to,  it  is  no 
wonder  that  lie  sometimes  makes  a  doll  l)al)y  and  amuses 
himself  in  talking  to  it.  I  have  noticed  some  of  this  class 
of  i^risoners  while  at  the  writing-table  in  school,  working 
until  their  clothing  was  wet  with  perspiration,  as  intent 
upon  learning  how  to  write  as  if  their  lives  depended  upon 
it.  And  they  always  come  out  victorious.  1  have  never 
known  a  failure  vet.  The  most  wonderful  fnct.  though,  is, 
how  fast  these  men  learn.  T  know  of  one  man  who  learned 
to  make  all  the  letters  of  the  aljdiabet,  botli  large  and  small, 
in  two  evenings  of  one  hour  each.     Heading  is  learned  by 


Causes  and  Cures  211 

some,  beginning  with  the  alphabet,  in  two  weeks — that  is, 
in  the  First  Keader."' 

Some  say  the  criminal  classes,  as  a  rule,  wall  not  take 
education.  I  know  to  the  contrary.  The  last  year  of  my 
official  connection  with  the  Ohio  Penitentiary,  though  we, 
at  that  time,  had  no  provisions  for  schools  as  now,  and  not- 
withstanding other  pressing  duties,  I  gave  particular  at- 
tention to  those  illiterate,  and  some  were  indeed  extremely 
so.  The  results  of  my  efforts,  privately  and  in  the  Sunday 
school,  were,  that  fifty  learned  their  letters  and  became  re- 
spectable readers,  and  nearly  as  many  learned  to  wTite  a 
respectable  hand. 

Necessarily,  in  my  efl'ort  to  teach  and  their  effort  to 
learn,  a  number  of  amusing  things  occurred.  One  colored 
man,  Henry  Alartin,  after  learning  his  letters,  became  so 
very  anxious  to  spell  and  read  that  he  came  to  me  almost 
daily  for  a  while  with  his  questions  and  requests,  first,  as 
to  putting  together  letters  for  spelling;  second,  the  forma- 
tion of  words  and  how  to  read  them.  Within  two  months 
this  num  learned  to  read  quite  well.  I  give  a  few  examples 
of  his  simplicity,  earnestness,  and  manifest  purpose  to  over- 
come the  difficulties  which  confronted  him.  At  one  time, 
while  trying  to  spell,  and  seeking  to  learn  the  meaning  of 
simple  words,  he  came  to  me,  saying,  "Chaplain,  I  have 
learned  to  spell  eggs."  I  requested  him  to  do  so,  which  he 
did  correcth^  He  then  l)egan  to  ply  his  questions ;  namely, 
*'Are  all  eggs  spelled  alike?  Then  how  may  I  determine 
between  bird  eggs,  goose  eggs,  hen  eggs?  If  you  w^ere 
sending  the  library  man  out  for  a  goose  egg,  would  you 
write  egg  and  then  put  the  picture  of  a  goose  a1>ove  it?" 
At  another  time  he  came  into  the  library  and  asked  me  for 
the  "axle-tree  of  understanding."  I  asked,  "What  do  you 
mean  ?"  After  some  hesitancy  and  blundering  of  words, 
he  said.  "I  want  a  little  book  with  leaves  which  will  flop  in 
my  face,  make  its  pictures  on  my  mind  to  stay."    I  handed 


212  The  Criminal  Classes 

him  a  primer,  and  he  said,  "That 's  it ;  that  is  what  I  want." 
Because  of  his  manifest  interest  in  books,  the  officers,  gen- 
erally, gave  him  all  possible  encouragement  and  aid,  and 
he  soon  became  quite  a  good  reader.  He  frequently  mem- 
orized passages  of  Scripture  and  recited  them  in  the  Sun- 
day morning  prayer-meeting.  One  of  his  favorite  books 
was  "Uncle  Tom's  Cabin,"  which  he  read  through  several 
times ;  another,  Stanley's  "Travels  in  Africa," 

One  man  learned  his  letters  by  cutting  them  out  and 
pasting  them  on  a  cigar-box  and  keeping  them  before  him 
in  his  shop  while  at  work.  He  became  a  good  reader  within 
one  year. 

Many,  within  brief  periods,  made  rapid  progress  in  the 
common-school  branches,  and  quite  a  number  became  very 
proficient  in  the  higher  branches,  and  some  in  regular  col- 
lege studies. 

The  schools  of  our  prisons  should  receive  the  hearty  sup- 
port and  sympathy  of  our  State  authorities. 


Causes  and  Cures  213 


LXXXII. 

The  Old  Church  Bell. 

A  Prisoner  Thinks  of  Home,  of  Early  Associations  and  Influences. 

Do  you  love  to  hear  the  ringing, 
And  to  hear  the  people  singing. 
Which  the  peals  to  church  are  bringing. 
Of  the  old  church  bell? 

Do  you  love  to  see  the  faces 
Of  the  pretty  female  graces, 
As  they  fill  up  all  the  spaces 
In  the  old  church,  well? 

Do  you  love  to  hear  the  preacher 

Explain  the  Bible  feature 

To  every  living  creature. 

And  to  hear  of  heaven  and  hell? 

Do  you  love  to  hear  the  praying, 
And  believe  what  they  ai-e  saying? 
And  are  your  thoughts  a-straying 
Where  righteous  thoughts  should  dwell? 

You  do  not  love  to  hear  the  tolling, 
And  to  see  the  dirt  go  rolling. 
While  the  preacher  stands  consoling. 
O'er  a  dead  one  loved  so  well? 

Yet  the  warn  of  death  is  rolling. 
And  the  bell  will  keep  a-tolling. 
As  the  carriages  go  strolling. 
At  the  sound  of  your  death  knell. 

Think  not,  friend,  you  will  evade  it, 
A  decree  of  God  has  made  it-. 
And  the  past  events  portrayed  it. 
By  the  tolling  of  the  bell. 


214  'Hie  Criminal  Classes 


LXXXJII. 

rjELIGIOrS    IXFLUEXCES    AND    KeLIGIOUS    IMPULSES. 

Religious  Work  in  Prison — Good  Results  Manifest — Employment 
of  Chaplains — Work  of  Chaplains — Response  from  Prison- 
er-*^— Illustrations — Prisoners'  Prayer-Meetings — Work  In  Hos- 
pitals. 

Under  Christian  civilization  has  Ijoen  combined  the  idea 
of  penance  and  reformation  in  the  penal  institutions.  It 
is  now  liv  very  many  believed  that  criminals,  while  suffering 
the  penalty  of  violated  law,  may  be  so  taught,  so  impressed, 
so  influence(],  so  disciplined,  that  when  returned  to  society 
their  inclinations  may  be  to  virtue,  and  they  Ije  so  fortified 
with  good  resolutions,  so  enamored  of  truth,  so  influenced 
with  motives  to  piety  as  to  successfully  resist  the  evils 
which  before  lured  them  into  the  paths  of  crime  and. shame. 
This,  indeed,  should  be  the  central  idea  in  the  management 
of  such  institutions.  This  must  not,  however,  be  thought 
the  work  of  a  moment.  Nor  should  we  become  discouraged 
if  all,  or  even  the  majority  committed,  are  not  reformed. 

Time,  patience,  sweetness  of  spirit  and  Christian  zeal, 
together  with  the  softening  dews  of  God's  grace,  are  all 
important  in  effecting  such  reformation,  even  to  the  small- 
est degree. 

I  know,  because  there  are  those  who  go  out  from  these 
institutions  only  to  violate  law,  and  return  under  a  second 
or  third  conviction,  that  many  arc  disposed  to  scoff  at  the 
effort  to  reform  men  in  prison. 

T  would  therefore  record,  for  the  information  of  such, 
that  manv  instances  may  be  given  of  those  "who  have  gone 
out  and  quiet! v  settled   down  to  habits  of  industry  and 


Causes  and  Cures  215 

frugality,  and  become  respected  and  honored  members  of 
society,  and  not  a  few  advanced  to  positions  of  honor  and 
trust,  who  thank  God  that  they  were  overtaken  in  their 
sins,  turned  into  a  prison,  and  there  taught  the  way  of  life. 
Of  course,  they  do  not  advertise  themselves  to  the  public 
as  having  served  a  term  in  some  State  prison,  nor  would  it 
be  prudent  for  them  to  do  so ;  but  some  know  who  they  are, 
where  they  are,  and  how  nobly  they  are  succeeding  in  life. 
As  a  most  helpful  agency  in  the  work  of  prison  reform, 
most  of  the  States  now  make  provisions  for,  and  give  en- 
couragement to  moral  and  religious  work  in  our  State 
prisons  by  the  employment  of  chaplains,  whose  duty  it  is 
to  provide  religious  service  for  the  Sabbath  and  to  attend 
to  the  needs  of  the  prisoners  in  this  direction.  The  chap- 
plain  must  also  often  see  the  sick  in  the  hospital  and  over- 
see the  library.  He  is  generally  recognized  as  a  friend, 
and  taken  into  the  confidence  of  inmates  and  consulted 
pertaining  to  their  personal  interests.  The  chaplain  will 
often  receive  notes  criticising  or  commending  his  sermon, 
theme,  delivery,  and  manner.  Sometimes  these  are  correc- 
tions of  dates  or  events  or  quotations,  sometimes  they  are 
enlargements  upon  his  line  of  thought.  Sometimes  there 
are  special  requests  for  sermons  on  particular  subjects,  and 
often  requests  for  prayers. 

ILLUSTRATIONS. 

One  ]\ronday,  after  the  completion  of  a  series  of  dis- 
courses, on  the  previous  Sabbath,  in  which  the  lives  and 
characters  of  Abraham,  Joseph,  Moses,  Isaiah,  and  David 
were  discussed,  I  received  from  an  intelligent  prisoner  the 
following  note : 

"Chaplain  :  We  have  now  heard  vnth  interest  and 
profit  from  you  about  Abraham,  Joseph,  Moses,  Isaiah,  and 
David.    Xow  tell  us.  What  about  old  Paul  ?      Yours, 


21G  The  Criminal  Classes 

The  following  Sabbath,  at  the  regular  ehapel  service,  I 
read  this  note,  and  announced  for  my  theme,  "What  about 
old  Paul  ?"  and  stated  that  1  wished  to  refer  this  question 
to  every  one  present ;  that  I  would  have  every  man  study 
for  himself  this  most  wonderful  character  to  its  finish; 
but  that,  to  aid  them,  1  would  enter  into  the  study  with 
them,  and  that  for  this  day's  study  we  would  consider 
Paul  up  to  the  time  of  the  change  of  his  name  from  "Saul." 

The  following  Sabbath,  I  renewed  the  question,  ''What 
about  old  Paul  ?"  1  spoke  of  Paul's  missionary  career  and 
his  oppositions. 

The  next  Sabl)ath,  I  again  announced  for  my  theme, 
"What  about  old  Paul?"'  In  this  service,  I  gave  them 
Paul's  prison  record.  There  was  in  each  of  these  discourses 
a  manifest  general  interest,  but  when  giving  them  Paul's 
prison  record,  and  speaking  of  Paul's  tedious  and  unjust 
incarcerations,  of  his  forced  companionship  with  soldiers, 
to  whom  he  was  bound  with  chains,  of  his  friends  forsak- 
ing him,  and  of  his  final  trial  and  execution,  they  all 
seemed  to  warm  up  with  unusual  interest  and  sympatliy. 
After  this  service,  and  on  their  return  to  their  cells,  along 
the  lines  from  cell  to  cell,  and  from  corridor  to  corridor, 
could  be  heard  the  inquiry  passing  from  one  to  another, 
"What  do  you  think  of  old  Paul  now?"  while  the  answer 

echoed,  generally,  "1  think  more  of  him  than  of ," 

Avho  generally  executed  prison  discipline. 

Soon  after  these  discourses  on  Paul,  I  received  from  a 
man  serving  a  life  sentence  for  the  brutal  killing  of  his 
wile,  the  following  communication: 

"Chapliik  :  You  have,  in  response  to  the  requests  of 
prisoners,  been  giving  us  sermons  of  late  on  fitting  subjects 
and  interesting  topics  and  characters.  I  have  never  yet 
heard  vou  ])reach  a  sermon  directly  to  the  ninety-six  life 
men  here.     For  the  good  of  tli"se  men,  and  especially  for 


Causes  and  Cures  217 

my  good,  J  request  that  you  preach  one  sermon  to  us,  and 
that  you  preacli  it  from  the  text  found  in  Komans  3  :  15-18, 
'Their  feet  are  swift  to  shed  blood :  destruction  and  misery 
are  in  their  ways;  and  the  way  of  peace  have  they  not 
known :  there  is  no  fear  of  God  before  their  eyes.'  Do  not 
hesitate  to  preach  it  in  full,  without  fear  of  offense. 

"Curtis." 

To  this  request  I  responded  without  reserve,  and  dealt 
out  to  this  class  some  very  plain  statements  touching  upon 
the  exceeding  sinfulness  of  sin  and  the  unlimited  strides 
into  crime  to  which  the  man  is  liable  Avho  goes  away  from 
his  God  and  shuts  his  heart  against  all  fear  of  Ms  Maker. 
Before  delivering  this  sermon,  1  read  the  man's  note,  which 
assisted  in  securing  the  attention  of  all  present.  The  ser- 
mon manifestly  took  fast  hold  of  many  in  that  great  audi- 
ence, the  fruit  of  which  I  hope  I  shall  see  on  the  final  reck- 
oning day. 

One  kind  of  religious  service  conducted  in  many  pris- 
ons, "the  prisoners'  prayer-meeting,"  is  especially  appre- 
ciated by  a  large  portion  of  the  prisoners.  The  exercises 
are  all  voluntary,  and  are  participated  in  l)y  a  large  num- 
ber of  prisoners;  old,  familiar  hymns  are  sung,  and  pas- 
sages of  Scripture  repeated.  In  this  service,  sometimes, 
the  scene  becomes  pathetic,  as  some  hymn,  familiar  in  other 
days,  swells  upon  the  air  from  the  choir  or  some  invited 
guest,  or  as  memories  of  home  and  loved  ones  are  recalled 
by  some  man  who  speaks  of  mother  or  wife,  and  tears  are 
seen  to  trickle  down  the  cheeks  of  many  who  cannot  forget 
the  loves  and  prayers  of  other  days., 

IK    THE    HOSriTALS. 

Here  the  chaplain  sometimes  finds  himself  Ijewildered  in 
the  midst  of  appeals  and  expressions.  Here  he  must  speak 
the  last  words  of  consolation  to  the  dying  and  receive  their 

14 


218  The  Criminal  Classes 

final  messages  to  their  friends.  Here  may  be  heard  agoniz- 
ing expressions  of  anguish  because  of  friends  betrayed, 
lives  spent  in  sin,  God's  offers  of  mercy  and  pardon  re- 
jected, hopes  vanished.  Here,  also,  may  be  heard  the  peni- 
tent's cry  and  the  final  exclamations  of  redemptive  joy. 

I  sat  once  in  the  prison  hospital  lietween  two  men.  Both 
were  dying,  slowly  dying.  One  said :  "Last  niglit,  at 
about  half-past  six  o'clock,  God,  for  Christ's  sake,  par- 
doned all  my  sins.  I  now  have  an  inexpressablo  peace. 
Xow  I  realize  that  I  am,  l^y  faith,  safe  on  the  rock  Christ 
Jesus.    Good-by." 

The  other,  in  response  to  my  inquiry,  said:  "Yes,  I 
think  I  am  dying.  I  have  no  words  to  send  to  relatives, 
and  have  no  friends.  There  are  no  persons  whom  I  call 
friends.  I  have  no  feelings  of  friendship  or  love  for  any 
one.  I  thank  you  for  your  seeming  interest  in  me,  but  for 
no  one,  not  even  God,  have  I  any  love.  Why  should  I  love 
him  ?  He  has  never  cared  for  me."  Then  with  curses  on 
his  lips,  both  for  God  and  men,  he  groaned  and  expired. 

Here,  however,  are  some  of  the  grandest  opportunities  for 
direct  religious  work  Avith  immediate  results  I  have  ever 
witnessed.  In  my  personal  intercourse  with  men  Avhile  they 
were  grappling  with  death.  I  have  had  some  peculiar  ex- 
periences and  strange  revelations.  The  reformation,  up- 
lifting, and  final  salvation  of  the  incarcerated  criminal  de- 
pend, to  a  very  large  extent,  upon  the  piety  and  natural 
fitness  of  those  Avho  are  placed  over  them  as  religious  teach- 
ers. Somel)odv  has  fittingly  said,  "There  is  a  contagion 
of  s:ood  as  well  as  evil." 


Causes  and  Cvres  219 


LXXXIV. 

Kept  in  Pekfect  Peace, 

Hy  Iv.  A.,  a  Prisoner  in  Ohio  Penitentiary,  after  Listening  to  a 
Sermon  from  Chaplain  De  Bruin,  on  the  Text,  '"Thou  Wilt 
Keep  Him  in  Perfect  Peace,  Whose  Mind  Is  Stayed  on  Thee : 
Because  He  Trusteth  in  Thee"   (Isaiah  20  :  3). 

In  the  prison  prayer-meeting  the  Sabbath  morning  fol- 
lowing after  the  sermon,  P.  A.  gave  substantially  the 
following  statement  about  himself:  "I  served  a  one-year 
term  in  the  prison  at  Joliet.  When  I  came  out,  I  resolved 
to  lead  a  straightforward,  upright  Christian  life.  I  found 
employment  in  Chicago,  attended  one  of  the  first  churches 
in  that  city,  and,  after  a  while,  was  invited  to  unite  with 
the  church,  which  1  cheerfully  did.  Everything  went  on 
nicely,  until  one  day  I  was  recognized  as  an  ex-convict  by 
a  stranger,  who  told  some  of  the  church  of  that  fact.  The 
result  was,  I  was  asked  to  withdraw  from  their  fellowship. 
It  so  disheartened  me  that  I  resolved  to  drown  myself  by 
drink,  and  again  commenced  a  life  of  crime,  which  re- 
sulted in  landing  me  in  the  Ohio  Penitentiary  for  a  num- 
ber of  years.  I  did  not  change  my  last  resolve  until  I  heard 
this  sermon  preached  last  Sunday  by  Chaplain  DeBruin, 
on  the  text  in  Isaiah  2G  :  3.  I  went  to  my  cell  and  lay  down 
upon  my  bed  all  broken  up.  T  thought  over  all  my  past 
life,  and  believed  God  would  again  forgive  me.  I  no 
sooner  thought  tlian  I  got  do'wn  on  my  knees,  and  before 
I  asked  a  word  immediately  felt  forgiven.  I  arose  and 
wrote  these  words : 


220  The  Criminal  Classes 


KEPT   IX    PERFECT   PEACE. 

"Thou  wilt  keep  him  in  perfect  peace. 

Whose  mind  is  sta.ved  on  thee," 
Because  we  trust  In  the  Jjovd  our  (iod. 

Our  strength  and  onr  shiehl  is  he  ; 
Strong  city  of  God's  salvation. 

Let  the  nation.s  enter  in. 
Who  ha\e  learned  to  trust  in  the  mighty  arm 

Of  .Tehovah,  our  Lord  and  King. 

"Tliou  wilt  keep  him  in  perfect  i)eace. 

Whose  mind  is  stayed  on  thee," 
The  harp  of  the  prophet  of  Israel  sang 

With  the  heaven-sent  melody  ; 
And  the  harp-notes  down  through  the  centuries  rinj 

From  the  east  to  the  west  they  fall. 
For  I  hear  their  echoes  from  Zion's  hill 

To-day  in  these  prison  walls. 

"Thou  wilt  keep  him  in  perfect  peace." 

Was  "peace"  in  that  life  of  mine. 
Driven  by  the  waves  of  passion, 

And  fury  of  maddening  wint-, 
Down  to  infamous  depths  in  the  darkness, 

Where  men  l)y  fiends  are  torn. 
And  I  rose  up  a  broken  and  shapeless  thing, 

Tliat  even  the  fiends  might  scorn  V 

"Thou  wilt  keep  him  in  perfect  peace." 

Will  "peace  like  a  dove"  descend 
On  him  who  would  buy  it  witii  gems  and  gold, 

That  he  steals  from  his  fellow-men? 
I  have  taken  the  devil's  wages, 

I  kno\\-  what  his  gold  can  buy. 
And  the  curse  in  his  money  has  marred  my  life 

With  a  stain  till  the  day  T  die. 

"Thou  wilt  keep  him  in  perfect  peace." 

Is  there  rest  for  the  weary  feet 
Of  the  fugitive  flying  from  outraged  laws. 

And  the  doom  of  the  judgment-seat? 
Tardon  and  peace  for  the  guilty. — 

I'eace  for  the  tortured  mind? 
Then  priceless  that  over  all  the  gold 

That  ever  was  gained  by  crime. 

"Thou  wilt  keep  him  in  perfect  peace." 
Tlius  spake  Ood's  priest  to-day. 


Causes  and  Cures  221 


And  I  lieard  in  words  like  a  burning  flame 

Tell  how  all  who  their  Lord  obey 
]Might  win  that  i:)€ace ;  and  my  heart  was  fired, 

As  the  song  of  deliverance  swelled, 
And  I  turned,  and  worshiped,  and  praised  the  Lord, 

Who  brings  peace  to  a  prison  cell. 

"Thou  wilt  keep  him  in  perfect  peace," 

There  's  a  Voice  that  calms  the  sea. 
The  voice  of  him  who  died  for  the  sins 

Of  the  world,  on  Calvary  ; 
Let  him  be  our  Lawgiver,  he  is  our  King, 

He  will  save  us,  turn  to  him. 
And  the  songs  of  the  angels  will  ring  through  heaven. 

Over  .sinners  redeemed  from  sin. 

"Thou  wilt  keep  him  in  perfect  peace. 

Whose  mind  is  stayed  on  thee." 
Sweet  promise  to  all  who  trust  in  God  ; 

Their  strength  and  their  shield  is  he; 
He  delivers  their  souls  from  prison, 

And  safely  to  Zion  brines 
All  who  trust  in  the  everlasting  strength 

Of  .Jehovah,  our  Lord  and  King. 

—Reported  hy  J.  W.  B.,  Guard. 


232  The  Criminal  Classes 


LXXXV. 

Good  Advicf.  fro:m  Prisox. 

Speak  No  Evil — A  Better  Way — Cure  Own  Defects — Curses,  Sorae- 
^'.mes,  Like  Cliickeus.  Come  Home. 

Ix  speaking  of  a  person's  faults. 

Pray,  don't  forget  your  own  ; 
Remember,  those  in  liouses  glass 

Should  never  throw  a  stone. 

If  you  have  nothing  else  to  do, 

But  talk  of  those  who  sin, 
'T  is  better  to  commenoe  at  home, 

And  from  that  point  beain. 

We  have  no  right  to  judge  a  man 

Until  he  's  fairly  tried. 
Should  we  not  like  his  company, 

We  k!iow  tlie  world  is  wide. 

Some  may  have  faults,  and  who  have  not? 

The  old  as  well  as  the  young; 
We  may.  perhaps,  for  aught  we  know. 

Have  fifty  to  their  one. 

I  '11  tell  you  of  a  better  plan, 

And  I  find  it  works  full  well. 
To  try  my  own  defects  to  cure. 

Before  of  others  tell. 

And  though  sometimes  I  hope  to  be 

No  woi-se  than  some  I  know, 
My  own  shortcomings  l)id  me  let 

The  faults  of  others  go. 

Now  let  us  when  we  commence 

To  slander  friends  or  foe. 
Think  of  the  harm  one  word  may  do 

To  those  we  little  know. 

Remember  curses,  sometimes,  like 

Our  chickens  roost  at  home; 
Don't  speak  of  others'  faults,  until 

We  have  none  of  our  own.  — A  Convict. 


Causes  a^id  Cures  333 


LXXXVI. 

Executive  Clemency. 

vSor.ght  for — Conditioned. 

To  THE  incarcerated  criminal,  I  think  no  other  word  in 
tlie  vocabuhiry  of  words  has  such  a  charm  as  the  word 
"■pardon,"  and  no  other  person  is  so  fascinating  as  he  who 
is  authorized  to  exercise  the  right  of  clemency.  With 
many,  to  obtain  pardon  for  the  particular  violation  of  law 
for  \\'hich  they  were  convicted  and  incarcerated  is  their 
a'plia  and  omega.  This  is  about  all  in  which  many  of 
them  can  he  interested.  For  this  they  strive  with  all  who, 
in  any  way,  may  be  l)rought  into  relations  with  them.  Be- 
cause of  declining  in  several  cases  to  give  my  personal  in- 
fluence to  obtain  pardons  for  some  whom  I  regarded  as 
unworthy,  there  are  yet  pending  threats  of  vengeance  upon 
iny  head. 

Appeals  through  personal  letters,  personal  friends,  and 
l)y  employed  attorneys  at  times  become  annoying,  perplex- 
ing, and  wearisome  to  the  executive  of  State.  To  be  just 
and  generous  toward  all,  and  partial  toward  none,  in  this 
regard  requires,  at  times,  a  stretch  of  effort.  In  the  exer- 
cise of  this  power,  1  have  known  several  governors  of  the 
State  whom  I  regarded  as  cautious  and  honorable,  fully 
set  to  exercise  this  power  with  discretion  and  fairness.  Of 
all  such,  however,  it  is  due  that  I  say  that,  in  my  opinion, 
the  State  of  Ohio  never  conferred  this  right  upon  any  man 
who  exercised  it  with  more  discretion  or  greater  impar- 
tiality, and  reached  wiser  conclusions,  than  did  Governor 
Charles  Foster.  His  certificates  of  pardon  were  not  so  nu- 
mrrous  as  several  others,  imt   his  decisions  and   reasons 


224  The  Criminal  Classes 

given  for  so  doing  were  generally  regarded  as  wise  and 
just,  and  accepted  with  .satisfaction  by  his  constituents. 

As  a  rule,  the  temperance  clause  authorized  by  law,  but 
left  optional  with  the  governor,  was  inserted  in  the  certifi- 
cates of  pardon  issued  by  Mr.  Foster,  as  follows,  "The  con- 
dition teing  that  he  abstain  hereafter  from  the  use  of  intox- 
icating liquors  as  a  beverage,"  with  endorsements  signed  by 
the  party  to  whom  it  was  issued,  as  follows,  "In  pursu- 
ance of  the  provisions  of  section  eighty-nine  of  the  Revised 
Statutes  of  Ohio,  1  hereby  accept  the  condition  named  in 
the  within  warrant,  under  the  penalty  of  a  forfeiture  of  the 
pardon  for  a  violation  of  the  same."' 

One  party,  to  my  knowledge,  refused  to  accept  a  certifi- 
cate Avith  this  condition,  saying  he  "would  never  sign 
away  his  personal  liberty,"  and  stayed  within  the  prison. 
Several  violated  the  condition,  and  were  returned  to  serve 
out  their  time.  ^lany,  however,  respected  tlieir  obligation 
and  the  condition  imposed,  to  both  their  credit  and  better- 
ment. 


Causes  and  Cures  225 


LXXXVJI. 

The  Discharged  Phisoner. 

It  is  more  dilKeult  to  keep  an  ex-convict  right  in  action 
than  to  get  a  convict  right  in  purpose;  therefore,  the  most 
important  moment  of  a  convict's  life  is  when  he  severs  his 
connection  with  the  institution.  If  he  is  changed, — his 
character  rehuilt  while  in  confinement, — his  first  aim  will 
be  to  find  some  honest  work  to  do  when  his  time  expires. 
If  he  is  trusting  luck  to  find  him  something  to  do,  luck  will 
be  lucky  in  but  very  few  cases.  "God  helps  the  man  who 
helps  himself."  JMany  cannot  find  employment  while  in 
confinement.  The  lack  of  friends,  or  their  want  of  faith 
in  his  newly-formed  resolutions,  militates  against  him. 
He  is  handicapped  by  his  former  life,  and  the  most  help- 
ing hand  in  the  work  of  his  reformation  comes  to  him  when 
he  leaves  prison — it  may  be  State  aid,  some  private  organi- 
zation, or  the  philanthropy  of  an  individual;  no  matter 
from  what  source,  it  is  his  friend  in  the  hour  of  greatest 
peril.  We  require  more  zealous  elfort  in  this  direction  than 
has  been  manifested  by  us  in  the  past.  The  lessons  taught 
in  an  industrial  school  or  a  model  reformatory  may  fail  in 
bearing  fruit,  not  because  they  were  unsound  or  unprac- 
tical, but  rather  because  so  much  money  and  energy  have 
been  spent  in  fencing  him  in  from  the  world,  and  so  little 
done  in  restoring  him  to  the  world.  "There  is  a  tide  in 
the  affairs  of  men,  which  taken  at  the  flood,  leads  on  to 
fortune."  But  what  are  we  to  expect  of  fortune  when  it 
is  ebb  tide  ?  It  is  ebb  in  the  heart  of  every  true-souled  man 
or  boy  on  the  day  he  leaves  his  confinement.  We  have  seen 
young  men  with  swimming  eyes  trying  to  crush  back  their 


236  The  Criminal  Classes 

sobs  as,  with  broken  voice,  they  whispered,  "My  God,  where 
can  I  earn  an  honest  living?"  The  flippant  malapert  on 
such  a  day  will  soon  )je  back  2i,g2Lva..— Selected  from  Litera- 
ture. 


Cause H  and  Cures  237 


LXXXVIII. 

COXCLUSIOX. 

By  well-regulated  reformatories  and  prisons,  controlled 
by  those  moved  by  the  spirit  and  example  of  the  Xazarene, 
our  criminal  population  can,  and  will  l)e  much  restricted 
and  greatly  reduced.  It  is  said  that  in  curing  the  be- 
wildered demoniac  "He  took  him  hy  the  hand  and  lifted 
him  up." 

"The  best  love  man  can  offer 
To  the  God  of  love,  be  sure 
Is  kindness  to  his  little  ones 
And  bount}'  to  his  poor." 


For 


"Mightier  far 
Than  strength  of  nerve  or  sinew,  or  the  sway 
Of  magic  portent  over  the  sun  or  star, 
Is  love." 


